LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday directed the Punjab government to produce ‘sensitive’ reports regarding Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind behind Mumbai attacks.

The court was hearing petition of Lakhvi challenging his fourth one-month detention ordered by the Okara DCO on March 14.

Also read: Govt not serious about prosecuting Lakhvi?

Advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi argued that the petitioner, in light of court’s direction, had filed a representation with the home secretary against his detention. However, he said, the secretary dismissed the representation and upheld the 30-day detention order issued by the Okara DCO.

The counsel pleaded that a person could not be detained beyond 90 days without obtaining an order from review board. A provincial review board comprises judges of the high court.

He pointed out that the trial court had released the petitioner on bail in December 2014, however, the Islamabad district magistrate issued detention order against him. Later, he said, Islamabad High Court had set aside the petitioner’s detention and ordered the government to release him.

However, another detention order was issued by the Okara DCO and the petitioner was not released, the counsel added.

He asked the court to strike down the impugned order and order the government to release the petitioner.

The court directed the government’s counsel to submit record of secret documents about activities of Lakhvi on Thursday (tomorrow).

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play