LAHORE, Oct 17: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday reserved verdict on a federal government’s petition challenging court’s jurisdiction to hear an application seeking transfer of trial proceedings against one of the Mumbai terrorist attacks accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi from Rawalpindi to Lahore.

The counsel for the federal government argued on Monday that the case against Lakhvi (petitioner) was registered at Islamabad, therefore, the Islamabad High Court had the jurisdiction to hear the transfer application.

Advocate Khwaja Sultan, on behalf of the petitioner, opposed the government’s plea and argued that the IHC could only pass an order to the extent of Islamabad.

He said the Lahore High Court had a vast territorial jurisdiction and could transfer the case to anywhere in Punjab. After hearing both sides, the chief justice reserved the verdict.

Lakhvi, an activist of banned outfit Lashkar-i-Taiba, alleged the trial was not being conducted fairly and the trial court (anti-terrorism court) was also being influenced by the government.

He also made security reasons as one of the grounds taken for the transfer of trial proceedings from Rawalpindi to Lahore.