26/11 accused Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi granted bail; Pak govt cites `technical error`

Islamabad: 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.

Source http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/26/11-accused-zaki-ur-rehman-lakhvi-granted-bail-pak-govt-cites-technical-error_1516754.html