Pakistan has acknowledged that there is enough evidence to prosecute Lashkar commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi for his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks, according to Indian media reports.
Pakistani officials admitted during last week’s home secretary-level talks that investigation conducted by their Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had established Lakhvi’s direct involvement in the 26/11 terror attacks.
Times of India quoting sources in the home ministry said the Pakistani officials told home secretary R K Singh that the evidence against Lakhvi, largely related to his role in organizing money and logistics, including the boat and inflatable dingy for the gang that ravaged Mumbai, was strong enough to secure his conviction in court.
“Pakistan told India about the development at FIA’s end during the home secretary-level talks between the two countries in Islamabad last week,” said an official privy to the details of talks between the two home secretaries.
Officials here termed it as a “significant admission”, stressing that Pakistani authorities will be required to produce the evidence in the court trying Lakhvi and six others including Lashkar commanders Zarar Shah and Abu Al Qama, who all are in jail.
Islamabad also gave an assurance to consider positively the request for release of Sarabjit Singh, a condemned Indian prisoner currently lodged in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. The assurance was given when home secretary R K Singh called on Pakistani interior minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad last week.
“I have requested the Pakistan interior minister and my counterpart (interior secretary K M Siddiq Akbar) to release Sarabjit Singh. They have assured me that they will consider our request positively,” Singh said while briefing reporters about his visit to Islamabad.
Sarabjit was convicted for his involvement in the 1990 serial bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people. He was given death sentence but his execution was indefinitely put off by the Pakistan government.
