India on Thursday rejected Pakistan's contention about insufficient evidence against Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and asked it to ensure reversal of bail granted to him as Parliament expressed outrage over the development and condemned it.
The Lok Sabha adopted a quickly-drafted resolution condemning the bail granted to Lakhvi and asked the government to take "all steps in its power, including through its relations with foreign countries, to put pressure on Pakistan to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion."
As the House stood as one on the issue sinking differences, Modi said India immediately conveyed its sentiments in the "strongest terms" to Pakistan and the future actions will take into account the agitated feelings expressed by the MPs.
Referring to the massacre in a school in Peshawar, he said, "The pain felt in India was no less than that felt in Pakistan. Every Indian had tears in eyes... But immediately after that this kind of behaviour has come as shock to all those who believe in humanity."
He assured the House that the sentiments expressed by the members will be reflected in government's actions on the issue.
Addressing the Lok Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "We do not accept this theory that Lakhvi be released on bail. We reject the argument that the evidence against Lakhvi, who is the mastermind of 26/11, was not sufficient."
She further added, "By allowing bail to Lakhvi, Pakistan has made mockery of its pledge to fight terrorism without discrimination. We demand Pakistan immediately get this decision overturned."
Earlier in the day, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, "Despite repeated assurances that have been received, we have seen both the prosecution of the seven accused in the Anti-Terror Court in Islamabad, as also the investigation by the authorities into the larger conspiracy surrounding the Mumbai attack case, proceeding at a glacial pace.
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