NEW DELHI:
India today said it was the “irresponsibile and inefficient” handling by various agencies in Pakistan which led to the release of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi from jail.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju also said that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim was living in Pakistan and Government was committed to bringing him back to face law.
“We have given all relevant papers, all evidence against Lakhvi. But Pakistani agencies did not produce these evidence properly before court, which resulted in his release from jail. They handled the case in a very irresponsible and inefficient manner,” he told reporters here.
Referring to 1993 Mumbai serial blasts key accused, Dawood, the Minister said there was no doubt that the underworld don was living in Pakistan.
“Dawood is in Pakistan. There is no doubt about that. We are committed to bringing him back. But I cannot give any time-frame as Pakistan is not cooperating with our request,” he said.
Asked whether India should play cricket with Pakistan as part of “cricket diplomacy”, Rijiju said the Government would take an appropriate decision taking into account all relevant issues as “people’s sentiment” was involved in it. (AGENCIES)