Lakhvi's release: Pakistan offers support to terrorists, alleges BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said Pakistan has allowed terrorist organizations to act with free will on its soil and alleged that Islamabad is offering logistical support to extremist elements.

BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao further said that Pakistan stands exposed after the international community expressed concern over Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi's release by Lahore High Court on Thursday.

"Today, Pakistan stands exposed in the eyes of the world. Organizations like LeT, Jamat-ud-dawa and many other banned organizations are acting at free will and terrorists like Hafiz Sayeed, Lakhvi roam very free. They can dictate to the institutions in Pakistan and it seems that the entire establishment in Pakistan is not only offering them logistical support but also overawed by these terrorist elements," Narasimha Rao told ANI.

"The kind of opposition that has been expressed by countries like France and United States at the release of Lakhvi only goes to show that Pakistan is completely cornered on this issue," he added.

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.

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

The court was hearing a petition filed by Lakhvi challenging his fourth one-month detention ordered by the Okara DCO on March 14

The court, however, has directed the accused to pay 20 lakh rupees in surety bonds to the Adiala Jail authorities.

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