Once Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi is freed, it will be very difficult to get him behind bars: Ujjwal Nikam

I was not shocked at all when I came to know that Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi's detention order was suspended by the Islamabad high court on Monday. The Pakistan government issued detention order to deny bail to Lakhvi, but it was a mere farce. The notification under a public security order was on Monday suspended by the Islamabad high court.

If the Pakistan government was more serious, then it would have ensured that he never got bail.

Lakhvi was bound to challenge the detention order claiming he was granted bail on merit and he is not able to get the benefit of the bail. The court found merit in Lakhvi's lawyer's argument that his client was being denied bail, hence released him on bail.

On one hand Pakistan government says that it will crack down on terrorism, especially after the terror attack on the school at Peshawar. But on the other hand, Pakistan government's law officer had not turned up for the hearing in Lakhvi's application challenging detention order. Hence, the high court passed an ex-parte order in Lakhvi's favour.

Why did Pakistan government not oppose the suspension order when Lakhvi had publicly announced that he would challenge it? This exposes Pakistan government's double standards.

Once Lakhvi is freed, it will be very difficult to get him behind bars. The provisions for cancellation of bail are very strict.

Pakistan is making a distinction between good Taliban and bad Taliban, categorising terrorists in a way which is very dangerous and can boomerang.

Lakhvi had been detained for five years at a stretch since his arrest on November 25, 2009, and was never granted bail. Earlier this month he was granted bail saying that there is no evidence against him (of his alleged involvement in 26/11 terror attacks), then on what basis was he detained for five years?

When the Pakistani Commission had visited India to question Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist who was captured alive and later hanged in 2012, they had even cross examined the investigating officer (Ramesh Mahale) and also the doctors who treated Kasab.

Lakhvi's lawyer was also a part of that delegation. They were shown the confessional statement made by Kasab wherein he has said that Lakhvi was the one who trained him and nine others who attacked Mumbai on December 26, 2008. Then how do they come to conclusion that there is no evidence against Lakhvi?

India should make a representation to the United Nations and the Security Council against the Pakistani court's order. India must also send official delegations to other countries like the US to impose more sanctions on Pakistan so that the neighbouring country takes a firm stand against terrorism.

—As told to Urvi Mahajani