Mumbai attack mastermind and LeT operations commander Lakhvi arrested in Pakistan
Lahore: Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was arrested on Saturday in Pakistan on terror financing charges, according to an official statement, amidst growing international pressure on Islamabad to bring to justice terrorists roaming free in the country.
UN proscribed terrorist Lakhvi, who was on bail since 2015 in the Mumbai attack case, was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province.
However, the CTD did not reveal the place of his arrest.
"Following an intelligence-based operation conducted by the CTD Punjab, proscribed organisation LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was arrested on charges of terrorism financing, the CTD said in an official statement.
It further said that Lakhvi, 61, was arrested in a case of terrorism financing registered in a police station of CTD Lahore.
"Lakhvi is accused of running a dispensary, using funds collected for terrorism financing. He and others also collected funds from this dispensary and used these funds for further terrorism financing. He also used these funds for personal expenses," the CTD said.
The CTD said that in addition to belonging to proscribed organisation LeT, Lakhvi is also a UN designated individual.
"His trial will be held before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore," it added.
Lakhvi was designated as a global terrorist by the UN in December 2008 for being associated with LeT and al-Qaeda and for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of both the entities.
Proscribed terrorists and entities are subject to an assets freeze, wherein all states are required to freeze funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities, a travel ban that prevents the entry into or transit through nations' territories by the designated individuals and an arms embargo.
Last month, the UN Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee allowed for a monthly payment of Pakistani Rupee 1.5 lakh for Lakhvi to meet his personal expenses.
The LeT, led by Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans.
The global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is instrumental in pushing Pakistan to take measures against terrorists roaming freely in Pakistan and using its territory to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere.
The Paris-based FATF placed Pakistan on the Grey List in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action to curb money laundering and terror financing by the end of 2019 but the deadline was extended later on due to COVID-19 pandemic.
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'One Nation, One Poll' bill tabled in Lok Sabha; Opposition calls for withdrawal
New Delhi: The government introduced two constitutional amendment bills in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday to pave the way for implementing the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal. The bills, aimed at synchronising Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections, were tabled by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Following the introduction, sources indicated that the legislation might be referred to a joint parliamentary committee for further consultation. As the single largest party, the BJP is expected to chair the committee and hold the majority of seats.
The move triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, who criticised the proposal as anti-democratic. Congress leader Manish Tewari described the bill as "beyond the legislative competence of the House" and demanded its immediate withdrawal. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav warned that it marked "a path to dictatorship," while Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee accused the government of undermining the independence of state legislatures.
Defending the proposal, the government argued that frequent elections disrupt governance, create policy paralysis, and lead to financial and administrative burdens. It asserted that synchronised elections would streamline the electoral process and foster stability in governance. The proposal stems from the recommendations of a panel led by former President Ram Nath Kovind, which submitted its report in September.
The bills propose linking the tenure of state Assemblies to the Lok Sabha, ensuring that state elections align with parliamentary polls. Assemblies elected after 2029 will see their terms end with that of the Lok Sabha, facilitating synchronised elections from 2034 onwards. Provisions related to Union Territories, including Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir, are also part of the amendments.
Despite the government’s justifications, opposition parties remain firm in their resistance. The Congress and Trinamool Congress labelled the initiative as an “anti-federal” move, alleging it threatens India’s democratic structure.
