Defense Attorneys challenge arrest of Mumbai attacks suspect

Defense attorneys in Pakistan have alleged
the government rearrested the suspected
leader of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on “fake”
charges to appease India. Authorities in
Pakistan appear to have a problem because
the release of the man could further raise
tensions with India and attempting to
influence the judiciary could draw massive
criticism at home.
The accused, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, is one
of seven suspects being tried in Pakistan
on charges of planning the Mumbai attacks
that killed 166 people.
The men were arrested shortly after the
deadly 2008 militant raid in the Indian
commercial capital, and New Delhi has since
been demanding Islamabad prosecute and
punish them.
However, earlier this month the anti-
terrorism court trying the suspects ordered
Lakhvi be released on bail, citing a “lack of
evidence” and “flaws in the prosecution’s
case. The ruling outraged India but tensions
eased after Pakistani authorities ordered
Lakhvi to remain in custody under a public
order law.
Defense attorneys successfully contested
the detention order in a higher court that
ruled on Monday that the suspected
militant leader could be freed on bail. But
hours after Lakhvi won the appeal, police
rearrested him on new kidnapping charges.
Defense lawyer Rizwan Abbasi said he has
launched new challenges against what he
criticized as “fake” charges and the “ghost”
complainant. Abassi said his client has been
in jail for more than six years so how could
someone in custody have kidnapped
anybody.
“It is alleged against my client that he has
abducted one person who is in custody since
more than six-and-a-half year. How is it
possible that a person who was in jail since
last six years he can retain someone in his
custody? From the face of it this allegation
is ridiculous,” he said.
Attorney Abbasi said that Pakistani
authorities were reluctant to release his
client because they did not want to upset
India.
“It is very clear that on Indian pressure my
client has been put in custody just to
deprive him from the right of liberty,” he
said.
India summoned the Pakistani envoy in New
Delhi to the foreign ministry to protest
Monday’s first ruling that appeared to free
Lakhvi.
He is expected to appear before the court
on Thursday when a report detailing the
police investigation into the kidnapping
charges is submitted.
The suspects on trial in Pakistan are
allegedly members of the outlawed militant
group Lashkar-e-Taiba that India accuses of
being behind the 2008 Mumbai carnage.
The latest “back and forth” in the high
profile case comes as relations between
Pakistan and India have plunged to new
lows in the wake of recent border clashes.
However, Pakistani officials maintain the
country’s judiciary is independent and the
government cannot interfere in the legal
proceedings.
Both the rival countries reported fresh
clashes on Wednesday along the disputed
border in Kashmir. The cross-border firing is
said to have killed two Pakistani soldiers
and an India soldier. It is unclear who
initiated the fire.