Islamabad: Once again, India’s pressure pushed Pakistan to keep Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack, behind bars. A Pakistani court had on Friday declared the detention orders of Lakhvi as illegal and ordered his immediate release, triggering strong reaction from India which summoned the Pakistan envoy in New Delhi to convey its outrage.
The court’s order to release Lakhvi immediately triggered strong reaction from India which summoned the Pakistan envoy in New Delhi to convey its outrage. Raja Rizwan Abbasi, counsel for Lakhvi, had told a news agency on Friday that he would submit the court’s order to the administration of the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi for the release of his client.
However, Lakhvi’s detention has been extended by the Punjab Provincial government to maintain public order. Lakhvi (believed to be a close relative of Laskhar-e-Toiba founder and Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed) will now stay behind bars for another one month. Reacting to the extension order, Lakhvi’s lawyer said this happened due to pressure from the Indian government.
In a statement, India’s External Affairs Ministry said that if a person, who is also a designated international terrorist by the United Nations, is released, it will pose a threat that cannot be ignored.
The Islamabad High Court on December 29 last year suspended the detention order but this was restored later. The court, however, on Friday declared Lakhvi’s detention orders illegal and ordered his immediate release. Lakhvi is accused of masterminding the Mumbai terror attack in November 2008 in which 166 people, many of them foreigners, were killed and hundreds others wounded.
Bureau Report
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