New Delhi: Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress on Monday strongly reacted to possible release of Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, saying it appears that Pakistan is "not prepared to learn any lesson" even after the largescale killing of school children at the hands of terrorists there.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said it showed that Pakistan was not serious fighting terrorism.
"The manner in which the Pakistan government has failed to ensure Lakhvi remains in detention, and the manner in which he was allowed to get bail shows Pakistan is not serious about fighting terror," said Rao.
Another BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said: "Pakistan is differentiating between good and bad terrorism. The terror which strikes its neighbour is good terrorism for them".
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday suspended the detention order of Lakhvi, who had been kept in custody under the preventive detention order after an anti-terrorism court granted him bail.
Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid called it a betrayal of Pakistan`s claim to fight terror.
"This was only a trial; keeping him (Lakhvi) in jail was the least we expected. It is disappointing, and a complete betrayal of their claim of fighting terror," Khurshid said.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi said it proves Pakistan has not learnt its lesson.
"It shows Pakistan is not concerned about how terrorism is spreading. Children were killed on their soil, but they still have not learnt their lesson," said Alvi.
Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi alleged that Lakhvi's case was that of lax prosecution and some even believe it was "collusive prosecution".
"Pakistan must realise that approach to terrorism cannot be selective ---one for India and the other for Pakistan," Singhvi said terming terror as a "Frankenstein monster".
A Pakistani court on December 18 had granted bail to Lakhvi, the LeT operations commander, sparking condemnation in India. The following day, Lakhvi was detained by Pakistani authorities for three more months, under Maintenance of Public Order (MPO).
Islamabad High Court Judge Noorul Haq N Qureshi, while accepting Lakhvi's application challenging his detention under MPO, today suspended the government's order in this regard and directed him to submit a surety bond of Rs 1 million. The court also asked Lakhvi to ensure his presence in every hearing of the case.
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.