26/11 Terror Mastermind Lakhvi released from Jail

Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the prime accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 that claimed 166 lives, was released from a jail in Pakistan on Friday, a day after a court suspended his detention. Lakhvi was released overnight from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi without any announcement by the jail authorities or the Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD), the organisation that Lakhvi was affiliated with, Geo TV reported.

JuD representatives were present outside the prison to receive Lakhvi, who was shifted to an unspecified location after his release, the sources added. On Thursday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) quashed Lakhvi’s detention for the fourth time, ordering him to be immediately released.

Lakhvi moved the Lahore High Court, challenging his detention and claiming it to be unlawful. His lawyers maintained in a petition that Lakhvi was being kept in custody despite higher courts ending his detention.

The Lahore High Court also accepted Lakhvi’s bail application, ordering his release on the submission of two bail bonds worth Pakistani Rs.1 million ($9,820) each. Last month, the Islamabad High Court declared Lakhvi’s detention illegal and ordered his release.

The Islamabad High Court order drew India’s ire and prompted the Indian external affairs ministry to summon Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and lodge a protest with him. (IANS)