The Pakistan Foreign office summoned a senior Indian diplomat in Islamabad to lodge a strong protest over what it calls the 'unnecessary hype' created by New Delhi over the possible release of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. Pakistan is also miffed at the public manner in which its envoy was summoned by New Delhi over the development.

"We have conveyed our concern that the Indian reaction is unwarranted and immature," said a senior foreign office official while briefing reporters on background  on Friday.
 
The official, who asked not to be identified, said that the Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned in the foreign office and was told that the release of Lakhvi "does not mean end to the Mumbai trial."
 
He said that India should not make irrational demands such as interfering in the judicial process. "Let the law takes its course," the official added.

The official pointed out that the trial of Mumbai suspects including Lakhvi had not ended and was still underway and that India must not pass judgement before the final verdict.
 
Pakistan also conveyed its concerns over the way the Pakistani high commissioner in New Delhi Abdul Basit was summoned. "We also call envoys but it is done quietly. When the Indian external affairs ministry called our high commissioner for meeting at the same time they leaked it to the media."

The official regretted that the Indian attitude appears to suggest that it wanted to whip up anti-Pakistan sentiments.
 
Drawing comparisons between the Samjhauta Express bombings and the Mumbai attack, the official said Pakistan never reacted when Indian courts granted bail to the mastermind of the incident, although he confessed his involvement. Unlike the Mumbai case, there is ample evidence available in the Samjhauta blast case and yet the Indian authorities are reluctant to start the trial, the official said.
 
He maintained that India's reluctance to pursue the trial of the Samjhota case was because "it might implicate the Indian defence establishment as well as Hindu hardliners."

Source: HT