Pakistan Supreme Court's decision to cancel 26/11 Mumbai attacks suspect Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi's bail order could have widespread ramifications in the long haul, an editorial in a leading Pakistani newspaper said.
A two-member Supreme Court bench on January 9 issued an order overturning the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision to free Lakhvi on bail of Rs1 million from Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, where he has been held since 2009.
According to the editorial "Terrorism on trial" published in the Express Tribune, Lakhvi's case is a befitting example of the range of complications in trying terrorists and bringing them to justice.
The country's Supreme Court stated in its ruling that hasty decisions needed to be avoided and that both sides were entitled to sufficient amount of time to present their case before the court.
An anti-terrorism court on December 18 had reportedly denied the prosecution's request seeking more time to solidify the case and ordered Lakhvi's detention. However, the decision was later overturned by the IHC.
The editorial said that the Supreme Court's ruling appears to give Lakhvi's case a chance at a fair trial with more time being granted to the prosecution to gather all facts and evidences that it would present in its defense.
While Lakhvi's case once again awaits IHC referral, the decision reached in the matter could have far-reaching repercussions given the sensitivity of the case.
Also, with New Delhi keeping a close eye on the fate of the man believed to have masterminded the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the editorial suggested that the case needed to be dealt with utmost care and precaution and called for a just prosecution of Lakhvi.
