Pakistan

LHC orders Lakhvi's immediate release

Declares the alleged Mumbai attack mastermind's detention illegal

Rana Tanveer April 09, 2015

A file photo of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. PHOTO: AFP

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court ordered on Thursday the immediate release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Dismissing Lakhvi’s detention orders, a single-bench of the LHC declared his detention illegal and called for his immediate release.

Read: Mumbai attacks: Govt told to produce ‘secret’ files on Lakhvi

The order came as the government failed to produce any proof against Lakhvi.

Lakhvi has been under detention for over five years over allegations of his involvement in Mumbai attacks in 2008, which left 166 people dead.

Last month, the Punjab government detained Lakhvi before he could be released from jail after a court ordered his release.

He was granted bail by an anti-terror court in December, a move that infuriated New Delhi. Amid outrage over the possible release of the alleged terror mastermind, Pakistan quickly slapped him with a detention order under the "Maintenance of Public Order" law.

COMMENTS (17)

observer | 9 years ago | Reply @AJamal: "@Anjaan: Those “evidences” would not stand in any court of law." All Western countries have seen the evidence and have concluded that Lakhvi and LeT were the perpetrators of the barbaric Mumbai massacre. Most of the evidence were generated by the American intelligence agencies. These countries and the UN have designated LeT, Hafiz Saeed, Lakhvi etc as terrorists. Pakistan has so far refused to give India a voice sample of Lakhvi to do a scientific matching of the recording that showed him giving real time commands to the LeT terrorists during the operation. The problem is that Pakistan just can't convict Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed for fear of them turning against Pakistan. LeT and these terrorists have been very useful anti-India "non-state" actors actively supported by the Pakistani Establishment.

Prakash | 9 years ago | Reply Where are all the Indians (like Mr. Nasereddin Shah and some liberal Indians who comment on ET) who want good relations with Pakistan? Remember liberal Indians - they hate us to the core and will not miss a opportunity to back-stab us.

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Tony Singh | 9 years ago | Reply @AJamal: "Pakistani courts should decide cases not based on the evidences, rather based on what pleases India." Pakistan courts decide cases on what pleases "Good Terrorists" "@Anjaan: Those “evidences” would not stand in any court of law." One has to present the evidence. Its courts to decide its credibility, not the prosecutor. Period. Let's see based on your logic, how far your govt. can move on Peshawar case.

Dipak | 9 years ago | Reply Terrorism is is name of the game in Pakistan, supported by Feudal, Military and Mullahs.

Sach Bhol | 9 years ago | Reply @AJamal: You may defend these snakes and sound like an apologist for a terrorist, but wait till the snakes bite you or any of your family members. The whole world knows - and Pakistan has been given adequate evidence - of this man's culpability in the Mumbai massacre of 2008. As for Pakistan's courts, the less said the better. When lawyers shower petals on killers of a minority minister, that speaks volumes about sense of justice and your judicial system. These terrorists will destroy Pakistan which has protected them. A country that has no character - it is surviving on handouts from Uncle Sam and Saudi Arabia - and whose foundation is based on a pack of lies and deceit, is doomed to perish..

ajeet | 9 years ago | Reply @AJamal: Pakistan won't show the evidence in court as it will indict the deep state. Pakistan has a history of lying to its people and the world.

AJamal | 9 years ago | Reply @Anjaan: Those "evidences" would not stand in any court of law.

AJamal | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistani courts should decide cases not based on the evidences, rather based on what pleases India.

Anjaan | 9 years ago | Reply @ Naeem Khan, India has all the recordings of the conversation and passing instructions to the Pakistani gunmen during the Mumbai massacre ... the Pakistani side never provided India the voice samples for matching ... the reason is obvious, that would nail the perpetrators ... !! ET please allow the post

Naeem Khan | 9 years ago | Reply I am surprised that Pakistani government did not present any evidence secret or otherwise to the concerned court. Above all India should also share evidence with Pakistani counterpart that this dangerous man is incarcerated for long time to come. If there is lack of any culpable evidence of his involvement in that Mumbai massacre, then he should be set free but watched carefully. We know that he is a trouble maker and Pakistan does not need trouble makers like him at this juncture. It will be prudent on part of India to supply all the evidence they have in regard to this man so the Pakistani government keeps him locked up.

Antebellum | 9 years ago | Reply Why must a Pakistani citizen be put in jail just because India wants to? He is innocent until found guilty, like everyone else!

Gulwant Singh Bedi | 9 years ago | Reply Nawaz Sharif needs to protect his family. He will let this man go. Shabaz,....Nawaz's brother has made different deals with banned outfits to protect the Sharif Family

Shahid | 9 years ago | Reply Looks like LHC has settled all other cases and sitting idol. That could be the only reason for the urgeny in this matter or else...

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply @Karachi: Government cannot put those anarchists away who were seen live on TV screens attacking Parliament and PTV. There is no such proof about this guy.

saleem | 9 years ago | Reply hand him over to India

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply Now this is getting predictable.......

Karachi | 9 years ago | Reply Please put him away for good.

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