Pakistan official keeps off, court sets 26/11 attack mastermind Lakhvi free

Islamabad/New Delhi: In a move that shocked and angered India, the Islamabad High Court on Monday suspended the Pakistan government’s order detaining Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged key planner of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, setting the stage for his release just days after the Islamabad anti-terrorism court had granted bail to him in the 26/11 case.

Islamabad High Court judge Noorul Haq Qureshi suspended Lakhvi’s detention under the Maintenance of Public Order after hearing his lawyer’s arguments.

The Pakistan government’s law officer did not turn up for the court hearing on Monday. Predictably, India was furious and responded swiftly with a sharp reaction, conveying to Pakistan its “strong concern”.