ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani government prosecutor said on Friday he will challenge a court order granting bail to Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the mastermind of the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.
"I am completing all the legal formalities and then I will challenge this order in Islamabad on Monday," government prosecutor Mohammad Azhar Chaudhry said.
India on Friday conveyed to Pakistan its "strong concern" on grant of bail to key Mumbai attack handler Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, saying the release will make a mockery of Pakistan's commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions.
"Despite repeated assurances that have been received, we have seen both the prosecution of the seven accused in the Anti-Terror Court in Islamabad, as also the investigation by the authorities into the larger conspiracy surrounding the Mumbai attack case, proceeding at a glacial pace.
"The story of repeated postponements, adjournments and unavailability of concerned law officers or witnesses is well documented and does not require repetition. The move to grant bail to Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi yesterday has taken this saga to another level," official spokesman in the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said.
"We have, therefore, forthwith communicated to Pakistan through diplomatic channels our strong concerns on this matter and the sentiments across the spectrum of Indian society that that this will make a mockery of Pakistan's commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions," the spokesman said.
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 dead, including foreigners.
The trial of the seven suspects has progressed at a snail's pace due to repeated adjournments and various technical delays.
Lakhvi, the operational head of the banned Laskhar-e- Taiba, was one of the key planners of the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people.
Nine of the terrorists involved in the attack were killed by Indian security forces. The only surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, was hanged after conviction by a trial court that was confirmed and upheld by higher courts in India.
In February 2009 Rehman Malik, the then adviser to the prime minister on the interior, had announced that Lakhvi was in custody and under investigation as the foremost mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks.
In November the same year, the anti-terrorism court formally charged seven suspects, including Lakhvi, with planning and helping execute the Mumbai attacks.
"I am completing all the legal formalities and then I will challenge this order in Islamabad on Monday," government prosecutor Mohammad Azhar Chaudhry said.
India on Friday conveyed to Pakistan its "strong concern" on grant of bail to key Mumbai attack handler Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, saying the release will make a mockery of Pakistan's commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions.
"Despite repeated assurances that have been received, we have seen both the prosecution of the seven accused in the Anti-Terror Court in Islamabad, as also the investigation by the authorities into the larger conspiracy surrounding the Mumbai attack case, proceeding at a glacial pace.
"The story of repeated postponements, adjournments and unavailability of concerned law officers or witnesses is well documented and does not require repetition. The move to grant bail to Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi yesterday has taken this saga to another level," official spokesman in the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said.
"We have, therefore, forthwith communicated to Pakistan through diplomatic channels our strong concerns on this matter and the sentiments across the spectrum of Indian society that that this will make a mockery of Pakistan's commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions," the spokesman said.
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 dead, including foreigners.
The trial of the seven suspects has progressed at a snail's pace due to repeated adjournments and various technical delays.
Lakhvi, the operational head of the banned Laskhar-e- Taiba, was one of the key planners of the Mumbai attack that killed 166 people.
Nine of the terrorists involved in the attack were killed by Indian security forces. The only surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, was hanged after conviction by a trial court that was confirmed and upheld by higher courts in India.
In February 2009 Rehman Malik, the then adviser to the prime minister on the interior, had announced that Lakhvi was in custody and under investigation as the foremost mastermind behind the Mumbai attacks.
In November the same year, the anti-terrorism court formally charged seven suspects, including Lakhvi, with planning and helping execute the Mumbai attacks.
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