A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed. This legal action is tied to the investigation of a terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. The NIA seeks his custody to proceed with the legal process under anti-terror laws.
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Hafiz Saeed, the head of the banned Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). This development follows the submission of a supplementary chargesheet by the agency regarding the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which occurred on April 22, 2025.
The court order, dated July 8, 2026, marks a significant step in the ongoing legal proceedings against Saeed. According to court filings, the NIA has accused the 76-year-old of masterminding the attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, many of whom were tourists. The charges are filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
The NIA informed the court that Saeed, who is currently residing in Sargodha, Pakistan, has been evading legal processes. By obtaining an open-ended non-bailable warrant, the agency intends to formalize its pursuit of his arrest and facilitate custodial interrogation, which it states is necessary for a complete investigation into the incident. The chargesheet also includes allegations against Saeed in his capacity as a leader of LeT and its affiliate, The Resistance Front.
Hafiz Saeed is already a designated global terrorist under Indian and international law, with a long history of involvement in major terror incidents, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. While this court order is a critical legal development in the Pahalgam case, the practical execution of the warrant remains complex due to the accused being located outside India's jurisdiction. The next procedural steps will involve the NIA utilizing this warrant to pursue further international legal or diplomatic channels to secure his presence for trial.