Lakhvi, three other Mumbai suspects' remand extended

Top Lashkar-e-Toiba operative Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and three other suspects in the Mumbai attacks case have been remanded to the custody of Pakistani authorities for two more weeks by an anti-terrorism judge.

Lakhvi and the other suspects LeT operatives Zarar Shah, Abu al Qama and Hamad Amin Sadiq were produced on Tuesday before anti-terror judge Sakhi Muhammad Kahut after the end of their initial remand period.

Investigators sought their remand for 14 more days to carry out further investigations to uncover the truth behind the Mumbai attacks.

The judge accepted the request and remanded them to police custody for a fortnight, the Urdu newspaper Jang reported. Judge Kahut had last month remanded the four suspects to the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) till March 3.

The FIA last month informed interior ministry chief Rehman Malik that the suspects were arrested on February 12 and could be remanded to the agency's custody only for 30 days.

Following this, Pakistani authorities said the Indian government should respond speedily to Islamabad's 30 questions seeking further information on the Mumbai incident so that action could be taken against the suspects.

Pakistani authorities have detained six suspects in connection with the Mumbai attacks. While Lakhvi, Shah, Abu al Qama and Sadiq have been remanded to the FIA's custody, the status and whereabouts of the two others is not known.

Malik has also said that Pakistani investigators have identified two other suspects though they are still at large.