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Pakistan releases 'top militant' Pakistan releases 'top militant'
(about 2 hours later)
A Pakistani court has ordered the release of the leader of an Islamic charity suspected of being a front for a group accused of the Mumbai attacks.A Pakistani court has ordered the release of the leader of an Islamic charity suspected of being a front for a group accused of the Mumbai attacks.
A court ruled there was no reason to hold Jamaat-ud-Dawa founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed under house arrest. The court ruled the continued house arrest of Jamaat-ud-Dawa founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed was unconstitutional.
The charity is accused of being a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group India says was behind the attacks. Mr Saeed is also a founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba.The charity is accused of being a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group India says was behind the attacks. Mr Saeed is also a founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
India has expressed its disappointment, calling the release "regrettable".India has expressed its disappointment, calling the release "regrettable".
More than 170 people died in the Mumbai (Bombay) attacks last November, including nine gunmen.More than 170 people died in the Mumbai (Bombay) attacks last November, including nine gunmen.
A spokesman for Jamaat-ud-Dawa told the BBC that they were always confident that Mr Saeed would be vindicated.
We are unhappy that Pakistan has not shown the degree of seriousness and commitment it should have Palaniappan Chidambaram,Indian home minister
"Our stand is clear. We have nothing to do with militancy or militants," he said.
But even though the court had ordered his release, the spokesman advised caution as to exactly when and how this might happen.
"I don't think the government is going to let it go so easily, and even if they do release Hafiz Sahib, they can always re-arrest him on some other concocted charge," he said.
Mr Saeed was placed under house arrest in December after the UN added him to a list of people and groups linked to al-Qaeda or the Taliban.Mr Saeed was placed under house arrest in December after the UN added him to a list of people and groups linked to al-Qaeda or the Taliban.
India 'unhappy'India 'unhappy'
India was swift to express its concern about Pakistan's commitment to fighting militancy following Tuesday's court order. Emerging from the Lahore High Court to shouts of support, Mr Saeed's lawyer, AK Dogar, said the court had ruled that the house arrest "is against the law and constitution of the country".
HAFIZ SAEED IN CUSTODY December 2001-March 2002: Arrested and released three times after Lashkar-e-Taiba was accused of attacking Indian parliamentAugust - October 2006: Detained after Lashkar-e-Taiba was linked to multiple train bombs in MumbaiDecember 2008 - June 2009: Placed under house arrest after Lashkar-e-Taiba was blamed for Mumbai attacks class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7753863.stm">Mumbai: A Pakistan militant link? We are unhappy that Pakistan has not shown the degree of seriousness and commitment it should have Palaniappan Chidambaram,Indian home minister
The court also ordered the release of three other Jamaat-ud-Dawa members. A copy of the court order was not immediately available.
Pakistan's Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa said the government would read the judgment before deciding whether to appeal against the court's decision.
India was swift to express its concern about Pakistan's commitment to fighting militancy following the court order.
"We are unhappy that Pakistan has not shown the degree of seriousness and commitment it should have to bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks," Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told reporters."We are unhappy that Pakistan has not shown the degree of seriousness and commitment it should have to bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks," Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told reporters.
More than 170 people died in the attacks in Mumbai in November
This is not the first time that Mr Saeed has been placed under house arrest following militant attacks in India - only to be subsequently released.This is not the first time that Mr Saeed has been placed under house arrest following militant attacks in India - only to be subsequently released.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says Pakistan is likely to point out that the decision to release Mr Saeed was made by an independent court.The BBC's Chris Morris in Islamabad says Pakistan is likely to point out that the decision to release Mr Saeed was made by an independent court.
India points out that Pakistan has taken suspects into custody in the past, only to release them when international attention turns elsewhere, our correspondent says.India points out that Pakistan has taken suspects into custody in the past, only to release them when international attention turns elsewhere, our correspondent says.
The US is also likely to be dismayed by the court's decision. It has listed Jamaat-ud-Dawa as a terrorist organisation.
Mumbai denial
A spokesman for Jamaat-ud-Dawa told the BBC that they had always been confident that Mr Saeed would be vindicated.
HAFIZ SAEED IN CUSTODY December 2001-March 2002: Arrested and released three times after Lashkar-e-Taiba was accused of attacking Indian parliamentAugust - October 2006: Detained after Lashkar-e-Taiba was linked to multiple train bombs in MumbaiDecember 2008 - June 2009: Placed under house arrest after Lashkar-e-Taiba was blamed for Mumbai attacks Mumbai: A Pakistan militant link?
"Our stand is clear. We have nothing to do with militancy or militants," he said.
But even though the court had ordered his release, the spokesman advised caution as to exactly when and how this might happen.
"I don't think the government is going to let it go so easily, and even if they do release Hafiz Sahib, they can always re-arrest him on some other concocted charge," he said.
In an interview with the BBC just before being placed under house arrest in December, Mr Saeed denied any connection with the Mumbai (Bombay) attacks.In an interview with the BBC just before being placed under house arrest in December, Mr Saeed denied any connection with the Mumbai (Bombay) attacks.
But the Indian authorities say there is evidence to show that they were planned and financed by Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan. Mr Saeed has been named on the official charge sheet in connection with the Mumbai attacks.But the Indian authorities say there is evidence to show that they were planned and financed by Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan. Mr Saeed has been named on the official charge sheet in connection with the Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan has admitted that the attacks were partly planned from Pakistani soil. The sole surviving suspected gunman is Pakistani and is currently on trial in Mumbai.
Founded in the late 1980s, Lashkar-e-Taiba is one of most feared groups fighting against Indian control in Kashmir. After it was banned in Pakistan in 2002, the organisation divided itself into Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba, correspondents say.Founded in the late 1980s, Lashkar-e-Taiba is one of most feared groups fighting against Indian control in Kashmir. After it was banned in Pakistan in 2002, the organisation divided itself into Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba, correspondents say.
Mr Saeed is at the helm of Jamaat-ud-Dawa which works as an Islamic charity all over Pakistan.Mr Saeed is at the helm of Jamaat-ud-Dawa which works as an Islamic charity all over Pakistan.