A Pakistani judicial board has extended by a month the detention of the prime accused in the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team here in 2009.
The Judicial Review Board headed by Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh of Lahore High Court accepted the Punjab government's request to extend the detention of Zubair alias Naik Muhammad.
Six policemen and two civilians were killed when about a dozen militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in March 2009.
The cricketers were on their way to play a Test against the Pakistani cricket team. Six Sri Lankan players were injured in the attack.
The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan was believed to have carried out the attack.
During a hearing yesterday, the Judicial Review Board heard arguments by officials of the Punjab government and the counsel for Zubair.
An official appeared before the board and pleaded the government's case. Zubair was also produced before the board.
The counsel for the accused argued that police had failed to prove his client's involvement in the attack and the trial court had already granted him bail.
He said law enforcement agencies were victimising Zubair though he had nothing to do with terrorist activities.
The Punjab government official informed the board that an appeal against the bail granted to Zubair was pending in the Lahore High Court. "More terrorism incidents are feared if the accused is released," he argued.
No foreign team has toured Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan players.
