Lakhvi's release exposes 'twin face' of Pakistan, says Rijiju

Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday criticized Lahore High Court's decision to release Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi from jail, saying that it exposes the 'twin face' of Pakistan in dealing with terrorism.

Rijiju further accused Pakistan of not pursuing the case against Lakhvi 'seriously'.

"We have given all the evidence related to Mumbai terror attack to Pakistan. He has been freed because Pakistan did not present the evidence given by us properly in the court and also because they have not pursued this case seriously. This exposes the twin face of Pakistan when it comes to fighting terrorists. We condemn this in strictest terms," Rijiju told ANI.

Earlier in the day, Israel's Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon, expressed his disappointment and surprise over the release of Lakhvi and described it as a setback for international efforts in the war against terror in which India and Israel are close partners.

The Lahore High Court on Thursday struck down the detention order of Lakhvi and ordered his release.

On Friday, Indian High Commissioner T C A Raghavan met Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary in Islamabad on Friday to register the Indian Government's strong concerns over the Lahore High Court's decision to release Lakhvi from Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail on grounds of non-availability of substantial evidence to keep him incarcerated.

Lakhvi is among the seven people charged with planning and carrying out the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.