Pakistan To Appeal Bail For Suspected Mumbai Mastermind

Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi

Government prosecutors in Pakistan say they will appeal an Islamabad court ruling granting bail to the man accused of masterminding the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.

Prosecutors will ask the Islamabad High Court on December 22 to withdraw the bail agreement for Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi.

Lakhvi, believed to be a leading member of the banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, is one of seven people charged with planning the Mumbai attacks, which left 166 people dead.

According to a ruling December 18, Lakhvi was due to be released after paying a $5,000 bond. He will now remain in jail pending the appeal process.

The bail ruling came two days after the killing of 132 children and nine adults in a Taliban school attack in Peshawar.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vowed to crack down on terror groups.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP