How Lakhvi got bail, who stood for surety bond? India to ask

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : May 06 2015 | 9:07 PM IST
India is likely to ask Pakistan as to how Mumbai terror attacks accused Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi was released from jail on bail in violation of the United Nations norms as his outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba was a designated terrorist group.
New Delhi is expected to send a diplomatic note to Islamabad seeking reply on how Lakhvi submitted two bail bonds worth Rs 1 million each for his release and who stood for the surety.
Official sources said Indian security establishment suspects that ISI might have arranged the surety bonds to ensure Lakhvi's release.
India has already sought the UN's intervention in the release of Lakhvi. India said it was in violation of the norms of the global body and it should raise the matter with Pakistan.
In a letter to the current Chair of the UN Sanctions Committee Jim McLay, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Asoke Mukherjee said Lakhvi's release by a Pakistani court was in violation of the 1267 UN resolution dealing with designated entities and individuals.
The sanctions measures apply to designated individuals and entities associated with terror groups including al-Qaeda and LeT, wherever located. .
In the letter by the Indian envoy, it was also mentioned that even the bail amount provided was against the sanctions' committee rule which calls for freezing the funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities.
The sanctions' committee has five permanent and 10 non-permanent UN member-states in it.
The release of Lakhvi had also raised concerns in the US, the UK, Russia, France and Germany with Washington calling for him to be rearrested.
Lakhvi and six others, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum, have been charged with planning and executing the Mumbai attacks in November, 2008 that left 166 people dead.
Lakhvi, 55, a close relative of LeT founder and Jamaat-Ud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, was arrested in December 2008 and was indicted along with the six others on November 25, 2009 in connection with the 26/11 attacks case. The trial has been underway since 2009.
A Pakistani court had on April 9 set free Lakhvi, a development which India said "eroded" the value of assurances repeatedly conveyed to it by Pakistan on cross-border terrorism.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: May 06 2015 | 9:07 PM IST

Next Story