New Delhi: The United States Ambassador to India Richard Verma on Friday called the release of 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind and Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi by a Pakistani court a mistake.
In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN, Verma said, "We have raised the issue of Lakhvi release with Pakistan government. The perpetrators of heinous attacks in Mumbai have to be brought to justice. We stand up against terrorism. The release of Lakhvi is a mistake and and a setback."
Justice Muhammad Anwarul Haq of Lahore High Court suspended the detention of 55-year-old Lakhvi under Maintenance of Public Order after the Pakistani government failed to present sensitive records against him in the court. The judge ordered Lakhvi to submit two surety bonds worth Rs 10 lakh each for his release.
"The law officer had submitted important information about Lakhvi, but the court did not accept this and declared the evidence unsatisfactory," an official of Lahore High Court said.
India had sought the United Nation's intervention in the release of Lakhvi, saying it was in violation of the norms of the global body and it should raise the matter with Pakistan.
Lakhvi and six others - Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum - have been charged with planning and executing the Mumbai attack in November, 2008 that left 166 people dead.
Lakhvi, believed to be a close relative of LeT founder and Jamaat-Ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, was arrested in December 2008 and was indicted along with the six others on November 25, 2009 in connection with the 26/11 attack case. The trial has been underway since 2009.
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