Lakhvi gets bail, again
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ISLAMABAD: The capital’s lower court here on Thursday granted bail to the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, against surety bonds worth Rs200,000.
The bail application of Lakhvi was heard in the civil court of Mian Azhar Nadeem, where the counsel, Rizwan Abbasi, argued that his client was wrongly booked in the six years old kidnapping case.
He stated that the case was registered against his client to detain him on the pressure of India after the Anti-Terrorism Court granted him bail following a six-year delay in his trial. He observed that evidence recorded so far was based on hearsay. In response, the judge granted bail to Lakhvi.
Read: Legal loopholes led to Lakhvi’s bailing out
When approached, the counsel said the surety bonds would be submitted within three to four days. However, the release of his client was difficult at the moment as he was detained in Adiala Jail under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for a month. He may be released after the completion of the time period, he added.
However, the police and capital administration authorities were of the view that there was little chance of Lakhvi being released. His detention may be extended either by issuing another MPO or seeking his custody for investigation into other cases registered against him. They said that any future action would be taken on the directives of the government.
Also read: SC restrains magistrate from deciding Lakhvi bail plea
Earlier, the Islamabad High Court had suspended the detention order of Lakhvi after he was detained under Maintenance of Public Order when the Anti-Terrorism Court granted him bail on December 18. A case was registered against him with Golra police station on the charge of kidnapping on December 30 and he was taken into custody by the police from Adiala Jail.
The next day he was produced in the lower court which gave a two-day physical remand. He was then jailed on judicial remand.
Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2015
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Comments (52) Closed
Jan 09, 2015 08:08am
Pakistan judiciary zindabad. Emphasises the need for military court in pakistan.
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Jan 09, 2015 08:11am
Give him a bail then he would disappeared. Not a good decision.
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Jan 09, 2015 08:27am
some war on terror,selected war ehh
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Jan 09, 2015 08:41am
Do we need only Military Court. Judiciary seems lost the plot completely.
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Jan 09, 2015 08:55am
Shame on us. We can no longer distinguish between right and wrong. No hope.
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Jan 09, 2015 09:01am
If he is innocent then what. India should give more evidence in my opinion. This is now looking very sensitive case.
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Jan 09, 2015 09:06am
The eagerness of courts to grant bail looks like the judges are being threatened and are scared to decide the cases on merits.
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Jan 09, 2015 09:19am
I think now only lawyers should comment on this post...
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Jan 09, 2015 09:26am
Pak govt. should investigate the source of money paid for surety bonds.
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Jan 09, 2015 09:30am
What a drama played by courts... These courts seem to highly disagree among themselves. Don't they operate upon a same constitution? Then why such conflicting results?
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Jan 09, 2015 09:35am
Can DAWN also put a Headline news on Samjotha express case and what India has done against the criminals
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Jan 09, 2015 09:39am
That's why we need military courts. Do you understand now.
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Jan 09, 2015 09:39am
wherr r military courts??
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Jan 09, 2015 09:40am
This shows how seriously Pakistan is fighting against terrorism
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Jan 09, 2015 09:46am
Here we go again
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Jan 09, 2015 09:49am
I don't think Lakhvi will be sentenced. I see that Pakistan government is trying to get Lakhvi punished but its too little too late. After so many years, I wonder what evidence is left.
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Jan 09, 2015 09:49am
Who is he?
Simply a puppet.
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Jan 09, 2015 10:05am
What a mockery of justice! Clearly shows the judges are afraid of terrorists.
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Jan 09, 2015 10:23am
A game of musical chairs. Pakistan deserves military courts since the civilian judiciary appear to be scared of terrorists.
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Jan 09, 2015 10:30am
@Gaurav Arya I wonder what evidence did exist in the first place ! India is hardly reliable when it comes to providing evidence to support it's allegations.
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Jan 09, 2015 11:16am
@rehan,@ahmed Wow. For your kind information, this time proof has not only come from India, it has also come from your dear friend USA. There are 100s of proofs against him. David Headley, a USA national, has confessed during USA interrogation that Lakhvi recruited him. Ajmal Kasab, who was one of the attackers and a Pakistani national, also said that he was recruited by Lakhvi. Abu Jindal, who setup control room in Karachi, said Lakhvi was in the control room. Conversations that was intercepted by intelligence has Lakhvi on the tape saying kill as many as possible. Pakistan has never given Lakhvi's voice sample to India even after repeated request. Pakistan has not even accepted that Ajmal Kasab was Pakistani national even when his family from Pakistan was lodging protest on his execution. If these are not the proofs then do you expect God to descend and give proofs?
These are enough proofs to at least deny the bail for such a dreadful terrorist. Pakistan need not act against pressure from India. They simply need to punish a terrorist for whom there are 100s of proofs. If still not agreed then release him, what's the need for all this drama.
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Jan 09, 2015 11:33am
@ahmed Peshawar incident was an evidence. All terrorists are bad. If you set free Lakhvi considering him a "Good terrorist", he will bit Pakistan someday. All terrorists must be locked permanently.
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Jan 09, 2015 11:34am
@rehan I second you
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Jan 09, 2015 11:42am
Its Pakistani Brothers of ours who need to worry about since these guys donot have any religion...they understand the language of death and spreading terror...they will kill humanity...so nobody needs to praise the courts ... there are courts and judgements that are proclaimed at a higher level ( by god) who will settle the justice for these " Enemies of Humanity" ..mind it there is no India or Pakistan for them...Good Luck to Pakistan!
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Jan 09, 2015 11:53am
There is no good or bad terrorist. A terrorist is a terrorist.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:02pm
Pakistan is under threat.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:12pm
Really sad to see this state of judiciary when so many innocent people including the armed forces of Pakistan are sacrificing their lives in the war against terrorism. Gives a sense of hopelessness to the world that terrorism can never be wiped out from Pakistan. Some terrorists will keep getting protected until they start biting back.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:20pm
@Kashmiri Of course all terrorist are bad. My question is about strong evidence. suppose, he's innocent but because of India pressure we are indicting him by keeping him in jail for a crime he didn't commit. My point is simple that India should give us reasonable evidence about him, for non-bailable arrest warrant. This is best time for them to give us evidence otherwise move on.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:22pm
Evidence provided by India is based on hearsay which is not admissible in any court of law in the world. How does india expect pakistani courts to convict him based on this?
Above question to any indian commenter who may wish to reply.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:36pm
Court system heavily depends on evidence which is probably not there.
If India can try Ajmal without much evidence (as per media reports that Indian intelligence officer accepted Mumbai was all fabricated) why can't Pak do to please India.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:48pm
Courts cannot decide cases on the desire of the people(involved or spectators) or foreign pressure. The judgement needs to be based on evidence. This case has not been decided so far. What will a Military Court do in the absence of a valid evidence; same as a Civil Court; only difference would be the speed of trial. Don't expect Military Courts to decide cases under pressure. I am sure these will provide justice based on credible evidence.
Everyone talking about our Courts and government; what about the acquittal of the terrorists involved in murder of Samjhota Express passengers by the Indian Court? Preach what you practice,India.
Dawn; please print; don't be biased in selection of comments.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:49pm
@Indian
Take care of your side first.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:50pm
@aky
It is not like Guantanamo Courts; is it?
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Jan 09, 2015 12:51pm
@jj
of foreign interference.
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Jan 09, 2015 12:54pm
What a flip flop! There is no hope. Pathetic.
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Jan 09, 2015 01:17pm
Is this a joke? Can we make ourselves look anymore stupid?
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Jan 09, 2015 01:21pm
I think the government is hoping he runs out of paying for his surety bonds so that he is in jail once and for all.
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Jan 09, 2015 01:41pm
We need military courts. Period.
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Jan 09, 2015 02:06pm
I dont understand...when supreme court is hearing case how can lower court can take decision on same case...in any judiciary sc is apex body and it has powers to stop lower court hearing same case which sc is handling...there is concept of mandamus through which sc can discipline lower courts
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Jan 09, 2015 02:32pm
All those so called advocates of democracy and anti military courts - This is why we need them!!!. Pakistan Judiciary is just a money making machine!. CJ should fire the judge immediately if he has any credibility!!!
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Jan 09, 2015 02:35pm
@Lafanga Even if it's hearsay, until the full evidence is brought out and heard, this guy shouldn't be given bail. Given the situation of the country we cannot let "suspects" roam free! Otherwise we will not have learnt anything from Peshawar.
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Jan 09, 2015 02:35pm
As an Indian, I would like to thanks Pakistan for at least trying him in court. I understand that high profile people always get benefited because of even tiny loopholes in the law. Same here in India. I also see positive message in this reporting. Well, what is it....? To Pakistani force - "Do not capture terrorists" [you know what I mean].
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Jan 09, 2015 02:36pm
@Sharath Chandra And also the surety bonds which keep accumulating each time he is bailed!
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Jan 09, 2015 04:47pm
To all Pakistani readers who are supporting this guy, please release him and when Peshawar like attack happens don't give any excuse. We all know there is no "Good Terrorists" and he will even kill Pakistani if he gets money for that.
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Jan 09, 2015 04:55pm
Disgusting judiciary! All the more important to have military courts. Sympathizers of terrorists are in the judiciary and they find one way or the other to bail them out. Not a good decision! No wonder Pakistan is in such a mess! Judiciary needs to fix its priorities right.
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Jan 09, 2015 05:20pm
Drama for US and India.
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Jan 09, 2015 09:15pm
What mockery of a Judicial System.
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Jan 10, 2015 01:05am
@rehan Evidense is present in internet, no need to ask Indian government. It would harldy take 30 min to match his voice sample. Polica had already submitted the evidence to court confirming the match.
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Jan 10, 2015 01:06am
I wonder why Mr. Lakhvi is so afraid to die.
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Jan 10, 2015 02:12am
as expected.
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Jan 10, 2015 03:12am
@Lafanga
based on voice samples , which are present in internet.
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Jan 10, 2015 09:43am
Lord that his mind should convert from ill terror thoughts in to good, noble humble and humanitarian thoughts, before he releases.l
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