ISLAMABAD: Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind in the Mumbai attack case, has requested the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) to exempt him from appearing in the court citing security reasons.

The ATC is scheduled to resume trial in the case on Wednesday.

ATC Judge Sohail Ikram on Monday issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking reply on Lakhvi’s application by May 6.

Also read: India seeks UN intervention on Lakhvi's release

Ever since the trial in the Mumbai attack case began in February 2009, Lakhvi and six other suspects in the case had been attending the proceedings inside Adiala jail. But after his release from jail last month, Lakhvi will have to appear before the court on his own.

Advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi, counsel for Lakhvi, argued before the court that his client had been facing threats and might be assassinated while coming to or leaving the court.

He pointed out that Lakhvi had been kept in tight security inside the jail as the law enforcement agency knew he might be targeted.

Advocate Abbasi requested the court to exempt him from personal attendance during the course of hearing.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2015

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