Pahalgam Terror Attack: NIA Court Issues Non-Bailable Warrant Against Hafiz Saeed, Trial in Absentia Moves Closer
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable warrant against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack case, marking a significant step in the ongoing investigation into one of the deadliest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
The warrant was issued after the NIA recently filed a supplementary chargesheet naming Saeed as one of the key accused in the April 2025 attack. Investigators have accused him of playing a central role in the alleged conspiracy behind the assault, both as an individual and as the head of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and its proxy, The Resistance Front (TRF).
While seeking the warrant, the NIA informed the court that Saeed, who is believed to be residing in Pakistan's Punjab province, has been deliberately avoiding arrest. The agency argued that custodial interrogation is essential for a thorough investigation and requested an open-ended non-bailable warrant to continue legal proceedings.
Accepting the request, the court observed that Saeed's arrest was necessary for an effective investigation and directed that the warrant be executed in accordance with the law through the NIA.
The latest order also brings Indian authorities closer to initiating legal proceedings under the "trial in absentia" provisions introduced through the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The NIA told the court that securing Saeed's presence before an Indian court is currently not feasible as he remains in Pakistan. Under the new criminal laws, courts can proceed with the trial of an accused who deliberately evades the judicial process after all prescribed legal procedures have been completed.
Officials are also expected to begin the process of declaring Saeed a proclaimed offender if he continues to remain beyond the reach of Indian law enforcement agencies.
The supplementary chargesheet invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), strengthening the agency's case against the 76-year-old terror leader.
Hafiz Saeed has long been designated as a global terrorist and has been accused by India of masterminding several major terror attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. His inclusion in the Pahalgam investigation, according to the NIA, points to the involvement of Pakistan-based terror networks in the planning and execution of the attack.
The agency's earlier chargesheet had named Pakistani nationals Suleiman, Jibran and Hamza Afghani, along with Lashkar operative Sajid Saifullah Jatt. Two residents of Pahalgam, Bashir Ahmad and Parvez Ahmad, have also been named during the investigation.
The Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22, 2025, when terrorists opened fire on civilians, killing 26 people, most of them tourists. The incident sparked nationwide outrage and led to an extensive investigation aimed at identifying everyone involved in planning, facilitating and executing the attack. The NIA has maintained that its probe into the larger cross-border terror conspiracy is continuing.
