RAWALPINDI: Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of Mumbai attacks, was released on Friday from Adiala Jail.

Source: tribune.com.pk

On December 10, 2014, an Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) had granted him bail.

Lakhvi was formally released from Adiala Jail after he submitted surety bonds of Rs2 million, following the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict declaring his detention orders illegal.

After receiving the court orders, Superintendent Adiala Jail Malik Muhammad Mushtaq Awan released the suspect on Friday afternoon.

Upon his release, Lakhvi was received by a large number of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) activists and was immediately moved to unknown location amid tight security. Sources close to the JuD, said that Lakhvi have went to his native District Okara, where he is expected to meet his family.

Lakhvi’s counsel Rizwan Abbasi told The Express Tribune that his client is a free man now and can move everywhere inside the country.

According to the Indian media, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh terming the development ‘unfortunate’ said the Indian government was ‘disappointed’ over the release of Lakhvi.

“India wants talks with Pakistan but the present development (release of Lakhvi) is unfortunate and disappointing,” zeenews.india reported.

Lakhvi was accused of being involved in planning and executing the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks that had killed over 160 people. He is also facing a six-year old kidnapping case in which he was granted bail in January this year.

Responding to the remarks of the Indian external affairs ministry’s spokesperson, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said the case of Mumbai attack suspects is subjudice adding that it would not be appropriate to cast aspersions on Pakistan’s commitment to countering terrorism specially at a time when Pakistan has entered a critical stage of defeating the menace of terrorism.

She alleged that inordinate delay in extending cooperation by India complicated the case and weakened the prosecution. “We respect the judicial process and are confident that it would serve the interest of justice,” Aslam added.

India slams Lakhvi release as ‘insult’ to Mumbai attack victims

ISLAMABAD: India on Friday slammed the release of  Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi from Adiala jail, terming it an “insult” to the victims of the three-day onslaught on its financial capital.

A spokesman for India’s home ministry, who asked not to be named, slammed Lakhvi’s release.

“This is a very disappointing announcement. An insult to the victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attack. The global community should take serious note of Pakistan’s double-speak on terrorism,” the spokesman said.

India’s Ministry for External Affairs said before the release that its concern about Lakhvi had been made clear to Pakistan. “The fact is that known terrorists not being effectively prosecuted constitutes a real security threat for India and the world,” an Indian ministry spokesman said.

“This also erodes the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to us with regard to cross-border terrorism.” India blamed the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the Mumbai attack.

Lakhvi and six other suspects have been charged in Pakistan but their cases have made virtually no progress in more than five years… read more at tribune.com.pk