ISLAMABAD: The Islam­abad High Court on Monday ordered the conditional release of Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks.

The court suspended his detention orders, which were issued by the Islamabad district administration soon after an anti-terrorism court granted him bail on Dec 18.

He is expected to be released sometime on Tuesday.

The decision drew a sharp reaction from India and it summoned Pakistan’s High Com­missioner to lodge protest. An Indian foreign ministry official said Delhi wanted “to register our protest over the court order”.

Seven Pakistani suspects have been charged with planning and financing the attacks but the failure to advance their trial has been a major obstacle to better ties between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2014