India has termed the bail granted to Mumbai terror attack accused Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi by an Anti -Terrorism Court in Pakistan as very unfortunate. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said India has provided all relevant evidence to Pakistan against Lakhvi. He expressed hope that the Islamabad will appeal against the bail in the higher court. Mr. Singh said he will also speak to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj about this. Minister of State for Urban Development Babul Supriyo also slammed Pakistan for granting bail to Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi. Talking to reporters in New Delhi today, he said this will give a wrong message to the world in terms of International relation. Mr Supriyo said, two days back Pakistan has paid price for sheltering terrorism. He said, a terrorist who have done the damage to the humanity will move freely after getting bail.
Earlier, an Anti Terrorism Court in Pakistan today granted bail to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the main accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Lakhvi is among the seven persons charged with planning and helping carry out the attacks in which 166 people were killed. His counsel advocate Raja Rizwan Abbasi told PTI that the court granted bail as evidence against him was insufficient.
Lakhvi had filed bail applications yesterday. Abbasi said the defence would soon file bail applications of the other six accused. The in-camera hearing of the case was held at Adiala Jail Rawalpindi due to security concerns. The judge, Kausar Abbas Zaidi, of the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad, adjourned the hearing till 7th January. The Indian mission in Islamabad is preparing a strong response against the grant of bail to Lakhvi.
Meanwhile, Public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, Ujjwal Nikam today said that the Pakistan government should ensure that top LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi is not released on bail. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Mr. Nikam said that a Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court’s order releasing Lakhvi on bail is really a big setback. 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 people dead. Rejecting claims by defence lawyers in Pakistan that there was no evidence of Lakhvi's involvement in the 26/11 carnage, Nikam said that Government of India has provided overwhelming and voluminous evidence against Lakhvi. He said that had there been no evidence, Lakhvi would have been released earlier.
Mr.Nikam said that Pakistani authorities should move a higher court for cancellation of bail because Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi are the real masterminds of the Mumbai terror attacks.
