Luxury in jail for alleged Mumbai Attack mastermind

Pakistani police officers escort Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, the main suspect of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, after his court appearance in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. (Photo: AP/B.K. Bangash)

The alleged mastermind behind 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi lives a luxurious life in Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

While the case for the suspension of his detention is being fought in courts, Lakhvi and his six comrades enjoy all facilities in jail, due to lack of strict laws in place for him. According to BBC, the accused militants have several rooms assigned to them next to the jailer’s office.

Not just that, Lakhvi and his cohorts have been granted access to a television, cell phones, internet and visitors any time of the day without any special identification and restriction of duration of stay.

Lakhvi is part of Lashkar-e-Tayabba (LeT) – one of the most largest and active terrorist organizations in South Asia, operating from Pakistan. Although, after his arrest in Dec. 2008, LeT assigned an acting chief, Ahmed, but in fact, Lakhvi is still the group’s operation chief and is constantly in contact with the alliance through his open access to phone, internet and visitors.

According to a jail official,  “On an average, he receives about 100 visitors every day; they are escorted to his private quarters where they can meet him without the watch of jail guards, and can stay for as long as they like”.

The LeT commander was arrested four days after Indian officials named him one of the major suspects in the 2008 attacks. Although LeT denied the claims, Pakistani investigators confirmed the group’s involvement in the attack. At least 160 people were killed in the attack on two hotels, a hospital, a train station, a Jewish cultural center and other targets.

Lakhvi’s bail request was rejected last month as the investigation is still in process. A notification was issued extending his detention for another 30 days, the objective being preventing him from attending any public meeting or potentially regrouping. Though currently, Lakhvi stays behind the bars, an open access to the outside world pretty much contradicts the whole purpose of his detention.