Jammu Court Issues Non-Bailable Warrant Against Hafiz Saeed in Pahalgam Terror Attack Case

Jammu, July 2026 : In a significant step in the investigation into the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, a special court in Jammu has issued an open-dated non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) identified him as the alleged mastermind behind the deadly attack that claimed 26 lives.

The warrant was issued on an application filed by the NIA under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The agency informed the court that Saeed has been named as Accused No. 8 in a supplementary chargesheet submitted earlier this month in connection with Case RC No. 02/2025/NIA/JMU.

According to the NIA, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, also known by several aliases including Hafiz Muhammad Sahib, Hafiz Mohaddad Sayid, Hafiz Mohammad, Hafiz Saeed, Hafez Mohammad Saeed, Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed, Mohammad Sayed, and Muhammad Saeed, is the founder of the banned Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba and has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

The agency informed the court that Saeed, a resident of Sargodha in Pakistan’s Punjab province, has been deliberately evading arrest while operating from Pakistan. It argued that his custodial interrogation is essential for uncovering the larger conspiracy behind the Pahalgam terror strike and for completing the investigation effectively.

After hearing the submissions of NIA Inspector and Additional Investigating Officer Arun Sharma, the court agreed with the agency’s request. In its order, the court observed that the arrest and custodial interrogation of the accused were necessary to ensure a fair, complete and effective investigation into the case.

The court subsequently directed the issuance of an open-dated non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed and forwarded it to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the NIA in Jammu for execution in accordance with the law and prescribed legal procedures. The application was then disposed of and consigned to the record.

The development marks another important milestone in the probe into one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. The attack took place on April 22, 2025, when terrorists targeted civilians in Pahalgam, killing 26 people and leaving several others injured. The incident drew widespread condemnation across the country and prompted an extensive investigation by the NIA.

The agency had filed its first chargesheet in the case in December 2025, naming several accused linked to the conspiracy. The latest supplementary chargesheet further expands the investigation by directly implicating Hafiz Saeed as the principal architect of the attack.

Officials believe the issuance of the non-bailable warrant strengthens the legal process against the Pakistan-based terror leader and lays the groundwork for further judicial proceedings, including efforts to declare him a proclaimed offender and pursue international legal mechanisms if required.

The NIA continues to investigate the broader terror network, funding channels, and cross-border links associated with the Pahalgam attack, with the agency reaffirming its commitment to bringing all those responsible to justice.

Team Maverick