India unhappy over Pakistan's release of Lashkar founder

New Delhi, June 2 (ANI): India on Tuesday regretted Pakistan's release of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed accused of assault on Mumbai in November.

India said it was "unhappy" with Saeed's release, which is also likely to dismay the United States.

"He is the head of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba, organizations listed by the United Nations under UNSC Resolutions 1267, as being affiliates of the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Sayeed is specifically listed as linked to these terrorist groups. It is regrettable that notwithstanding this background and the international obligations it entails on Pakistan, he has been released," said Vishnu Prakash, an official of Foreign Ministry.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said that Pakistan's action casts doubts on the sincerity of the Islamabad in fighting terror.

"Terror has to be fought and has to be contained. It is regrettable that Pakistan has resorted to this. This only shows that Pakistan's seriousness about fighting terror is still under a cloud," said Krishna.

Earlier in the day, a full bench of the Lahore High Court ordered the release from house arrest of Saeed on the basis of a habeas corpus petition filed by his lawyer. The high court said that it had not received substantial evidence to continue the detention of Saeed.

A full bench of the Lahore High Court also ordered the release of another Jamaat-ud-Dawa leader, Colonel (retired) Nazir Ahmad.

The bench, comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Justice Hasnat Ahmad Khan and Justice Zubdatul Hussain, heard arguments of the petitioners' counsel after those of the attorney general.

"The house arrest of Hafiz Saeed is illegal and unconstitutional and termed it as the violation of human rights," petitioners' counsel A K Dogar said.

Saeed was put under house arrest on December 11 last year, and his release was made after five months and 20 days.

The Attorney General had earlier told the Lahore High Court, that the government had enough proof against Saeed to warrant extension of his arrest, but could not produce that evidence in court. He had also said that Saeed had undeniable links with the Al Qaeda. (ANI)