India conveyed strong concerns to Pakistan after learning that Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi may walk free
India on Monday conveyed strong concerns to Pakistan after learning that the Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi may walk free as his detention was suspended by a local court.
The Government said there seems to be no end in sight to Pakistan remaining a safe haven for well-known terror groups.
New Delhi swung into action immediately after reports on Lakhvi's impending release were splashed all over the media.
Foreign secretary Sujata Singh summoned Pakistan High Commission Abdul Basit to give him a dressing down on the failure to bring all the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice.
The Indian mission in Islamabad conveyed a similar message to Pakistan's foreign office.
New Delhi said it was extremely disturbing that despite the assurance it has been receiving for six years, and the recent tragedies in Pakistan, "there seem to be no end in sight to Pakistan remaining a safe-haven for well-known terror groups".
"The foreign secretary conveyed strong concerns over the lack of effective action by Pakistan's prosecuting authorities after the anti-terrorism court ordered the release of internationally designated terrorist Lakhvi, whose involvement in the Mumbai terror attack is well known," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
India's strong reaction came hours after the Islamabad High Court suspended the government order to detain Lakhvi under a public security order.
A Pakistani court on December 18 had granted bail to Lakhvi, the LeT operations commander, sparking condemnation in India.
The following day Lakhvi was detained by Pakistani authorities for three more months under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
Lakhvi is among the seven Pakistani nationals accused of planning and abetting the brazen terror attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, that left 166 dead, including foreigners.
Islamabad High Court judge Noorul Haq Qureshi suspended Lakhvi's detention under a Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) after hearing his lawyer's arguments.
The government's law officer, however, did not turn up for Magnumslot the hearing.
The court directed the government to file a reply in this regard at the next hearing in the case, on January 15.