Chief Justice Lahore High Court on Monday reserved decision in a petition filed by an activist of the banned outfit Lashkare Tayyaba, Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi seeking transfer of Mumbai attacks case from Anti-terrorism Court Rawalpindi to Lahore High Court.
The petitioner through Khawaja Sultan, argued that he did not expect fair trial by the Special Court in Rawalpindi. He also apprehended threat to his life in Rawalpindi. He contended the ATC was not working independently as the government was influencing which was already under the influence of India.
Lakhvi was charged by the India, among others, as mastermind of the Mumbia attacks, which killed over 160 persons, including foreigners in November 2008. The ATC Rawalpindi is holding in-camera proceedings of the case inside Adiala Jail. Special Investigation Cell (SIC) had registered a case against eight suspects, including Hamad Ameen Sadiq, Zarar Shah, Hamza alias Abu Alqa, Mr Khan, Shahid Jamil Riaz alias Muhammad Riaz, Javed Iqbal, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Muhammad Ashfaq for their alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks. The SIC had arrested the accused, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Hamza alias Abu Alqa and Hamad Ameen Sadiq, from Soan Terminal on February 12, 2009. Police also arrested accused Shahid Jamil Riaz alias Muhammad Riaz from Chakwal city in March.
It may be mentioned that in 2010, the then Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif had declined Lakhvi's transfer application. At that time Lakhvi had contended that his life was in danger as personnel of Indian secret agencies were roaming around the federal capital.