Pakistan apex court forms bench to hear Lakhvi's case

Pakistan Supreme Court Monday formed a two member bench to hear the detention case of alleged mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, media reported.

The bench headed by Justice Jawaad S Khawaja will hear the case Tuesday, The News International reported.

Earlier, Interior Ministry challenged the Islamabad High Court's (IHC) decision to suspend the detention order of Lakhvi in the Supreme Court.

In Dec 2014, an anti-terrorism court granted bail to Lakhvi but the government moved to detain him under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). The detention was overturned by the IHC.

Lakhvi is currently detained at the Adiala Prison in connection with an abduction case.

Lakhvi was arrested in February 2009 and indicted along with six others Nov 25, 2009, for planning and helping to carry out the Mumbai terror attack.

The six other men facing trial for their alleged involvement are Hammad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Younas Anjum, Jamil Ahmed, Mazhar Iqbal and Abdul Majid.

At the time of the attacks, Lakhvi was believed to be the operational head of the banned Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT) that has been accused by India of being the perpetrator.

Lakhvi, along with Zarar Shah, was allegedly the key planner of the attack that left 166 people dead and over 300 injured in Mumbai.