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India conveyed its sentiments in the 'strongest terms' to Pakistan, says PM Narendra Modi

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India on Thursday rejected Pakistan's contention about insufficient evidence against Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and asked it to ensure reversal of bail granted to him as Parliament expressed outrage over the development and condemned it.

The Lok Sabha adopted a quickly-drafted resolution condemning the bail granted to Lakhvi and asked the government to take "all steps in its power, including through its relations with foreign countries, to put pressure on Pakistan to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion."

As the House stood as one on the issue sinking differences, Modi said India immediately conveyed its sentiments in the "strongest terms" to Pakistan and the future actions will take into account the agitated feelings expressed by the MPs.

Referring to the massacre in a school in Peshawar, he said, "The pain felt in India was no less than that felt in Pakistan. Every Indian had tears in eyes... But immediately after that this kind of behaviour has come as shock to all those who believe in humanity."

He assured the House that the sentiments expressed by the members will be reflected in government's actions on the issue.

Addressing the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "We do not accept this theory that Lakhvi be released on bail. We reject the argument that the evidence against Lakhvi, who is the mastermind of 26/11, was not sufficient."

She further added, "By allowing bail to Lakhvi, Pakistan has made mockery of its pledge to fight terrorism without discrimination. We demand Pakistan immediately get this decision overturned."

Earlier in the day, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin​ said, "Despite repeated assurances that have been received, we have seen both the prosecution of the seven accused in the Anti-Terror Court in Islamabad, as also the investigation by the authorities into the larger conspiracy surrounding the Mumbai attack case, proceeding at a glacial pace.

"The story of repeated postponements, adjournments and unavailability of concerned law officers or witnesses is well documented and does not require repetition. The move to grant bail to Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi yesterday has taken this saga to another level," official spokesman in the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said.

"We have, therefore, communicated to Pakistan through diplomatic channels our strong concerns on this matter and the sentiments across the spectrum of Indian society that that this will make a mockery of Pakistan's commitment to fight terror groups without hesitation and without making distinctions," the spokesman said.

Lakhvi is among the seven Pakistani nationals accused of planning and abetting the brazen terror attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008 that left 166 dead, including foreigners.

Rehman Lakhvi and six other accused had filed bail applications even as no proceedings of the case took place at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, as lawyers were observing strike to condemn the terrorist attack on an Army-run school in Peshawar that left 141 people, mostly children, dead.

Four witnesses had earlier identified the seven accused on December 10 in an anti-terrorism court hearing in Rawalpindi, conducting trial of the Mumbai terror attacks. The witnesses from the port city of Karachi identified one of the accused who had purchased boats from them.

LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Anjum have been charged with planning, financing and executing the attacks in India's financial capital that killed 166 people in November, 2008. 

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