ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday challenged the bail of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi — the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks — in the Islamabad High Court today.

Earlier on Dec 18, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) had granted bail to Lakhvi.

Take a look: ATC approves bail of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in Mumbai attacks case

However, the federal government had extended his detention in the Adiala Jail under the Maintenance of Public Order ordinance.

Examine: Mumbai attack 'mastermind' Lakhvi detained under MPO

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutors Chaudhry Azhar and Hussain Pirzada petitioned to the court today, saying that the ATC had ignored testimony in the case while granting bail to Lakhvi.

The application said there is solid testimony available against Lakhvi despite of which the ATC had sanctioned his bail, and pleaded that it should be rejected.

The petition also alleged that Lakhvi's counsels had caused a delay in the case's proceedings.

Lakhvi is among the seven persons charged with planning and helping carry out the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The six other men facing trial in Adiala Jail for their alleged involvement in Mumbai attacks 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-i-Taiba (LT) that has been accused by India of carrying out the attacks in India's financial capital.

Lakhvi along with Zarar Shah was allegedly the key planner of the attack that killed 166 people.