India summons Pak envoy to register protest over Lakhvi release: Reports

The Indian Government has reportedly summoned Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, to register New Delhi's strong protest against the Islamabad High Court's decision to release Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakir-ur-Rehman Lakhvi from prison.

According to television channel reports, High Commissioner Basit is expected to go in for a meeting with officials of India's External Affairs Ministry at around 2.30 p.m. on Friday.

Earlier, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, criticized the Islamabad High Court's decision to release Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, saying there should be no discrimination in terms of showing the character of terrorists.

Rijiju also blamed the Pakistani agencies for not presenting the 'incriminating evidences' against Lakhvi properly in the court.

"It is the responsibility of the Pakistan Government to ensure that all the legal measures are taken so that he doesn't get out of jail. All the overwhelming evidences, which clearly shows Lakhvi's role and conspiracy in the bomb attack in Mumbai has not been properly presented in the Pakistani court by the Pakistani agencies. This is a case which is worrying us. The Pakistani agencies should present all the incriminating evidences in the court of law," Rijiju told the media here

"There should be no discrimination in terms of showing the character of terrorists. Terrorist cannot be a bad or a good terrorist . We are concerned and we would like to see that the Pakistan Government takes things seriously and Pakistani agencies present all the evidences available before the Pakistani courts," he added.

Leaders of the Congress Party also criticized Pakistan, saying that it was not serious about dealing with the menace of terrorism.

Earlier in the day, the Islamabad High Court declared Lakhvi's detention as 'illegal' and ordered his release .

Lakhvi is accused of planning, financing and executing the Mumbai attacks in 2008.