Within 24 hours of the lahore High Court order suspending detention of Zaki-ur Rehman lakhvi, the 26/11 mastermind walked free on Friday. However, his release triggered uproar from both India and the international community. Shortly after lakhvi’s release, Indian High Commissioner met Pakistan Foreign Secretary to lodge a strong protest. The matter is expected to be taken up at the political level also. India described the release of Mumbai terror attacks mastermind lakhvi as an “insult” to the 26/11 victims and asked the international community to take note of Islamabad’s double standard. The External Affairs Ministry said that the release of the UN-designated terrorist has “eroded” the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to it by Pakistan on cross-border terrorism.
In France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that terrorism knows no border, and the French delegation shared its anguish saying they fully support India in this matter saying lakhvi’s release wasn’t good news for India or the world. “Release of terrorist accused of heinous crime of Mumbai terrorist attacks is deeply shocking,” said French President Francois Hollande. “India wants talks with Pakistan but the present development (release of lakhvi) is unfortunate and disappointing,” said Home Minister Rajnath Singh. “This is an insult to the victims of 26/11 terror attacks. Global community must take note of Pakistan’s double standard in dealing with terrorism,” a senior Home Ministry official said.
Slamming Pakistan, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “In the release of lakhvi, Pakistan has not fought the war on terror sincerely. The handlers of Mumbai terror attacks were never tried in court and thus they have been released. Much more than being a setback to the Government, I would think that Pakistan’s intention on proving that it is very clear on tackling terror has now come out clearly that they are not very keen on establishing their credentials on fighting terror.” She said however much Pakistan would claim on the speed, duration and progress of the trial are all matters on which the Indian Government has repeatedly reminded Pakistan that they have to “walk the talk”. “And they haven’t done (so). And today they have gone to this extreme...,” she added.
India has been arguing that 99 per cent of evidence in lakhvi’s case linked to Mumbai attacks lies in Pakistan since the entire operation was conspired, planned, financed and executed from there. And the remaining 1 per cent has been handed over to Pakistan in the form of statements by Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorist caught and executed by India, Abu Jindal, and Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley. India had also given audio recording of conversation between lakhvi and with terrorists operating in India.
According to an assessment by the security agencies, lakhvi’s release may lead to spurt in terror acts in India. According to official sources, for the last three months, a section of Pakistani establishment was trying every trick in the book to get lakhvi out as the lashkar-e-Tayyeba cadres need his expertise. The assessment would be shared with country’s top leadership to decide the future course of action on the issue. Fifty five-year-old lakhvi, who guided 10 leT gunmen from a control room in Pakistan during 26/11, walked free from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after being under detention for six years, a day after a Pakistani court ordered his release. A member of lakhvi’s legal team on Friday submitted the lHC order to the jail authorities and subsequently they released him at 1.40 pm. Jamaat-ud-Dawa supporters were present outside the prison to receive lakhvi.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Government’s legal team discussed several options to keep lakhvi behind the bars. However, it could not offer any legal ground to further detain him. A Government law officer said it was difficult for the Government to go for the option of detaining lakhvi again under the Maintenance of Public Order which had been suspended twice by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and lahore High Court.
The Government had arrested lakhvi for the kidnapping of an Afghan national after the trial court granted him bail on December 14, 2014. The court had granted him bail in it and directed the Government not to register any other case against him without informing the court. Justice Muhammad Anwarul Haq of lahore High Court had suspended the detention of lakhvi under Maintenance of Public Order as the Government failed to present “sensitive evidence” against him in the court.
Meanwhile, the Congress attacked the Modi Government for failing to keep pressure on Pakistan to keep lakhvi behind bars. Taking a dig at Modi, Congress leader Milind Deora tweeted, “Where’s a 56-inch chest when you need oneIJ” While Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma said: “It calls in to question the sincerity of the Pakistan Government. We must have a coherent and meaningful discussion with Pakistan.”