A day after a Pakistan court ordered the conditional release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack, is set to walk free from the Adiala Jail on Tuesday, despite strong protests lodged by the Indian government in this regard.
The Indian government had on Monday summoned the Pakistani envoy to “convey concern” over the Islamabad High Court order for the conditional release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi who heard a petition filed by Lakhvi, seeking an end to his detention, suspended his detention and asked him to submit a security bond of Pakistani Rs.1 million (around $9,000), Dawn online reported.
On December 18, Lakhvi was granted post-arrest bail by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad. However, the federal government extended his detention in the Adiala Jail under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.
On December 26, Lakhvi challenged his detention in the high court.
During Monday’s hearing, Lakhvi’s counsel Rizwan Abbasi said the court previously accepted his client’s bail plea, but the administration detained him, which was unlawful. He said grant of bail was an issue of fundamental right.
After hearing the arguments, the court suspended Lakhvi’s detention.