Ujjwal Nikam says that Pakistan is not taking effective steps to dismantle terrorism.
Even before the wounds of the Peshawar school attack could heal the Pakistan court has granted bail to Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, accused of conspiring the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had vowed to eliminate terrorism from his country but the release of Lakhvi has raised questions about Islamabad’s intention to fight terror. This only exposes the hypocrisy of Pakistan as it doesn’t back its words with action.
Lakhvi was known to 26/11 terrorists as ‘Chacha’. India had provided several dossiers to Pakistan on the Mumbai terror attacks but the nation has failed to take action against the accused responsible for masterminding the attacks.
Ujjwal Nikam, the special public prosecutor in Mumbai terror attacks case, has expressed deep shock on Pakistan court’s decision to grant bail to Lakhvi. He said, “Despite possessing evidence about Lakhvi’s involvement in the Mumbai terror attack, Pakistan has granted bail to him. It’s a disturbing news and mockery of justice. Pakistan is adopting dual standards against terrorism. When the court says no evidence (against Lakhvi), it means that our case has not be properly represented in the court.”
“If you provide shelter to terrorists they will create trouble for you. Pakistan must take stringent action against terrorism. This act goes to show that Islamabad is only encouraging terrorism and is not taking effective steps to dismantle it. The Pakistan government should move to the High Court to challenge Lakhvi’s bail” he added.
“If Pakistan wants to fight terrorism, they should fight terrorist who are inside the state,” he said, while demanding that bail be cancelled.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “People like Hafiz Saeed should not be allowed to speak. However, Pakistan continues to offer shelter to him. There are can’t be two yard sticks for fighting terror.”
After the Peshawar terror incident, India had lent a helping hand to Pakistan to fight terrorism jointly. Indians had expressed solidarity to the victims of Pakistan but nation has gone forward to grant bail to Lakhvi. Pakistan needs to do much more to show that it is serious about its intentions to fight terror. It needs to act against terror and take action against Dawood Ibrahim, Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi.
Commenting on the Pakistan court’s decision, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, expressing pessimism, said that it was truly shocking to hear that Lakhvi could get bail after a ridiculously long trial.
Shaken by the Taliban terror attack, Pakistan has also pledged to announce a “national plan” to tackle terrorism within a week.
The seven accused – Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum – are facing trial at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
India has decided to convey its displeasure to Pakistan and put forward a strong response against granting of bail to Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
