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Pakistan court orders release of Mumbai attack ‘mastermind’

Saturday, 14 March 2015 10:36 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 14 March 2015 10:36 AM ]

(FILES) In this photograph taken on November 27, 2008, flames and smoke billow from the roof of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, during an attack by suspected militants. A Pakistani court on December 29, 2014, suspended a detention order on the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, prompting a furious India to summon Pakistan

Kamran Yousaf
Press TV, Islamabad

Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of November 2008 Mumbai attacks, is seen as major obstacle in normalizing relations between Pakistan and India. Lakhvi was detained by Pakistani authorities in 2009 in connection with the attack. After years of trial, the court accepted his bail in December last year. But soon after the court ruling, the government detained Lakhvi under the maintenance of public order.

On Friday, the Islamabad High Court declared the detention order as illegal and ordered authorities to release Lakhvi. The latest court ruling may have negative implications for relations between Pakistan and India.

During his recent visit to Islamabad, the Indian foreign secretary demanded the successful prosecution of Mumbai attacks suspects, including Lakhvi.

The Indian government also summoned the Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi to convey its objections over Lakhvi’s release.While Pakistan says it cannot interfere in judicial matters, India, believes that it is the responsibility of Islamabad to take legal measures to ensure that Lakhvi does not come out of prison.

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