Terrorism – NIA Court Issues Non-Bailable Warrant Against Hafiz Saeed in Pahalgam Case
Terrorism -The National Investigation Agency has secured a non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed as part of its investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack case.
A special court handling National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases has issued a non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of the banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The order is linked to the agency’s ongoing investigation into the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people, most of them tourists, in south Kashmir. The court passed the order on July 8, shortly after the NIA submitted a supplementary chargesheet expanding the scope of its investigation.
Supplementary Chargesheet Strengthens Investigation
The latest chargesheet was filed before the Special NIA Court in Jammu and names the 76-year-old Hafiz Saeed both as an individual accused and as the leader of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba. Investigators have also linked him to The Resistance Front (TRF), which the agency describes as a proxy organisation operating on behalf of LeT. The charges invoke several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
According to the NIA, the supplementary filing includes additional material gathered during the course of the investigation and seeks to establish the alleged role of Saeed in the planning and support structure behind the attack.
Court Accepts NIA’s Request for Warrant
In its submission, the NIA informed the court that Hafiz Saeed has been deliberately avoiding arrest and remains outside the reach of Indian authorities. The agency identified him as a resident of Sargodha in Pakistan’s Punjab province and requested the issuance of an open-dated non-bailable warrant to enable further legal proceedings.
After considering the agency’s request, the special court observed that Saeed’s arrest and custodial interrogation were necessary to ensure a fair, complete and effective investigation. The court subsequently directed that the warrant be issued and forwarded to the Deputy Inspector General of the NIA’s Jammu unit for execution in accordance with legal procedures.
Long-Standing Terror Accusations
Hafiz Saeed has long been designated as a global terrorist by both India and the United States. Indian authorities have repeatedly accused him of orchestrating several major terrorist incidents, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left more than 160 people dead. His name has featured prominently in multiple investigations related to cross-border terrorism over the past two decades.
The latest legal action in the Pahalgam case adds another development to the list of proceedings involving the alleged activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba and affiliated organisations.
Background of the Pahalgam Terror Attack
The Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22 last year in south Kashmir, where armed terrorists targeted civilians, resulting in the deaths of 26 people. Most of the victims were tourists visiting the region, making it one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent years.
Since the incident, the National Investigation Agency has continued its probe by collecting evidence, examining suspects and filing successive chargesheets. Officials maintain that the investigation is ongoing and that further legal action will depend on the evidence gathered during the course of the case.