Lakhvi seeks exemption from appearing in court

Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi has requested a Pakistan court to exempt him from personal appearance citing security reasons, media reported on Tuesday.

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) is scheduled to resume trial in the case on Wednesday, Dawn online reported.

ATC Judge Sohail Ikram on Monday issued notices to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seeking reply on Lakhvi's application by May 6.

Since the trial in the Mumbai attack case began in February 2009, Lakhvi and six other suspects in the case had been attending the proceedings inside Rawalpindi's Adiala jail.But after his release from jail on April 10 following the Lahore High Court's dismissal of detention orders issued against him by the Okara District Coordination Officer on March 14, Lakhvi will have to appear before the court on his own.

Advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi, counsel for Lakhvi, argued before the court that his client had been facing threats and might be assassinated while coming to or leaving the court.

He pointed out that Lakhvi had been kept in tight security inside the jail as the law enforcement agency knew he might be targeted.

Advocate Abbasi requested the court to exempt him from personal attendance during the course of hearing.