26/11 accused Lakhvi granted bail

Pakistan  government cites ‘technical error’ Agencies ISLAMABAD, DECEMBER 18 In a move that is set to indignate India, Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Court on Thursday granted bail to Lashkar-e-Toiba commander and 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks plotter Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi citing lack of enough evidence. Pakistan's move of granting bail to 26/11 accused Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi stands out starkly, given the widespread condemnation and pledges being made to fight terrorism in the aftermath of the blood-curdling Taliban attack on Peshawar's Army Public School. Lakhvi and six others had filed bail applications yesterday even as lawyers were observing strike to condemn the terrorist attack on Peshawar school. All seven were accused of planning, financing and helping to execute the carnage in Mumbai in 2008. The anti-terrorism court granted bail to Lakhvi on the surety of two bonds worth Rs 500,000 each. However, the Pakistani government claimed the bail was a technical error on their part and officials said they would oppose it. According to a Dawn report, the FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) prosecutor "disagreed with the bail request, however Lakhvi's advocate Rizwan Abbasi stood before the court as the bail was approved by the court". Lamenting the loss of lives of innocent school children in Peshawar school attack, Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif had also pledged to crack down on terrorists in a speedy manner and hence had lifted the moratorium on death penalty in terror case. In line with the ban, President Mamnoon Hussain today rejected mercy appeal by 17 convicted of terrorism and they would soon be executed. However, the granting of bail to one of the key accused in 26/11 attack cases negates Pakistan's power-packed vows to eliminate terrorism from its soil that keeps on popping its ugly head to strike its own people. Lakhvi was arrested by Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and has since been serving jail in Rawalpindi. While Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed masterminded the Mumbai terror attack, it was Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who was the handler of all ten gunmen who came ashore Mumbai that fateful night and was also in touch with them throughout the massacre. Pak continues to sponsor terror groups against India: Govt PTI NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 18 Pakistan continues to sponsor terror groups and hostile propaganda against India, and necessary steps would be taken to safeguard the country's interests, the government told the Rajya Sabha today. India has reiterated to Pakistan its commitment to establish peaceful, cooperative bilateral ties and to resolve all outstanding issues through a bilateral dialogue as envisaged under the Simla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said in a written reply. "Pakistan's sponsorship of terror groups and hostile propaganda against India has, however, continued unabated," Swaraj said. She said the government has asked Pakistan to respect the sanctity of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and has asked it to abide by its commitment to prevent terror groups to operate against India from its territory or those under its control. In this context, Swaraj said, "India has called upon Pakistan to respect the sanctity of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and abide by its publicly stated commitment to prevent terror groups to operate from its territory or territories under its control against India." The minister said the government is aware of Pakistan's attempt to spread anti-India propaganda at international level and will take all necessary measures to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation to ensure the safety and security of all Indians. In reply to another question, Swaraj said India had participated officially at the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons from December 8 to 9 this year and underlined the need for joint efforts and support for policy and legal measures for increased restraints on the use of nuclear weapons. "India's participation at the Conference reinforces its unwavering commitment to universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament. The Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) is an export control regime and is not related substantively to the agenda of this Conference," she said, calling for including all states possessing nuclear weapons to make the dialogue meaningful. In another reply, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said a new "States Division" has been set up in the Ministry to facilitate states in their efforts to promote exports and tourism and attract overseas investment."In keeping with the emphasis on coordination with states for further facilitation of their efforts to promote exports and tourism and attract more overseas investment and expertise, a separate division named 'States Division' has been set up in this Ministry," he said. He said the division will coordinate facilitation of efforts for promotion of exports and foreign investment among Indian missions abroad, governments of states and UTs, foreign diplomatic and trade missions in India and concerned central ministries. Singh said mutual interest in strengthening bilateral economic relations is reflected by the inclusion of cities other than Delhi in the itinerary of foreign dignitaries during their visits to India. In reply to another question, Singh said as per the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia there are no report of large-scale arrest of Indian workers after three-month grace period under its Nitaqat programme, though there may be a few cases of Indians from a very large Indian community who have been deported. He said as a result of efforts initiated by the Indian Embassy including issue of emergency certificates, "over 1,40,000 Indian workers were able to leave for India without facing penal action or ban on their return."