ISLAMABAD: A civil judge/judicial magistrate on Friday dismissed a petition seeking the acquittal of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in a kidnapping case.

The Islamabad police booked Lakhvi for the alleged kidnapping of an Afghan national after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended his (Lakhvi’s) detention in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case on December 26, 2014.

Lakhvi was granted bail by the anti-terrorism court of Islamabad in the Mumbai attacks case on December 18, 2014.

A handout issued by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad the same day stated that it was unacceptable that a person allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks and designated as an international terrorist by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was being released on bail.

The federal government, however, detained him under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) the same day.

After the IHC on December 29 suspended the detention order, he was taken into custody by the Golra police in connection with a six-year-old kidnapping case.

As per the FIR, the Islamabad police registered on December 29, 2014, Mohammad Daud complained that his brother-in-law Anwar Khan, an Afghan national, was kidnapped by Lakhvi over six years ago.

Capital admin also issues order to detain lakhvi for another month

On Friday, Lakhvi’s counsel argued before the court that the government had registered a fake case against his client under the international pressure.

The prosecution, on the other hand, said since evidence and witnesses had not so far been produced, the filing of the acquittal plea was premature.

Meanwhile, the police also submitted the challan of the kidnapping case to the court on Friday.

Detention extended

The capital territory administration on Friday issued a detention order of Lakhvi for another month as the previous order will lapse on February 16.

The detention order was issued by acting deputy commissioner Mushtaq Ahmed in response to a request made by the senior superintendent of the capital police.

Officials in the police and the local administration said that earlier this week the superintendent of the Adiala Jail informed Inspector General of Police Tahir Alam Khan that the detention order of Lakhvi would lapse within a few days. After the expiry of the order, the accused would be released as there was no reason to detain him.

The IGP was asked to reply before February 14 if Lakhvi’s detention was necessary.

In response, a meeting was convened at the Punjab House on February 10 which was attended by senior police and administration officers. Later, it was decided that another detention order would be issued to detain Lakhvi for another month.

Published in Dawn February 14th , 2015

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