Punjab home department orders to detain Lakhvi again for a month
The government will also file an appeal against IHC decision in the Supreme Court.
LAHORE (Web Desk / AFP) – Setting the Islamabad High Court s order aside, the Punjab home department has issued directives to detain Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, for another month, Dunya News reported.
The order was issued a day after the Islamabad High Court cancelled detention order against the accused potentially paving the way for his release, prompting outrage in New Delhi.
The home department will also file an appeal against the IHC decision in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Earlier, India was infuriated over his possible release.
"If such a person, who is also a designated international terrorist by the United Nations, is released it will pose a threat that cannot be ignored," India s foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said in a statement late Friday, adding that his government has "conveyed its outrage" to Pakistan.
Giving a swift response to India, Pakistan officials said that the government can’t influence court’s decision and that India should stop creating unnecessary hype over the issue.
Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said that bail does not mean acquittal, adding that Lakhvi will still face trial.
The accused was granted bail by an anti-terror court in December, but quickly slapped with a detention order under public order laws.
The Islamabad High Court suspended that order, only for the Supreme Court to reinstate it in January.
On Friday, the high court once again set aside the detention order.
A detailed order handed down by the court said government lawyers had failed to provide evidence to justify Lakhvi s detention.
Throughout the three-month back and forth over Lakhvi s detention, he has never been let out of Adiyala Prison in Rawalpindi.
