Lakhvi still in detention: Pak envoy assures

"I want to tell you that Mr Lakhvi has not been released, he was in detention and continues to be in detention," Mr.Basit told reporters  at a programme here.

Replying a question on how much time the trial would take to complete, Basit said,
"I think it will take sometime because the crime scene was in India."

" We got all the evidences from India. I can give you so many things even at this stage with so many gaping holes elsewhere but I will not like to enter into a debate on that issue. I will request you not to jump the gun and draw premature conclusion," he said.

The Pak envoy's assurance came few days after the Islamabad High Court acquitted Lakhvi evoking strong protests from India.

The court said there is no such evidence against Lakhvi to keep him in jail.

However, after India took up the matter at the highest level, the Punjab state government of Pakistan slapped fresh charges on Lakhvi which are supposed to keep him in detention at least for one more month.

Basit said Pakistan has a strong civil society and an independent judiciary and one must not judge it through a "narrow prism."

"Please do not judge us through a narrow prism. Pakistan has changed a lot in the last 10 years. We have a very strong civil society, we have a very robust media, an independent judiciary. So Pakistan is not the same country it was some 20 years ago," he said.

"It is a trial and it is a matter sub-judice. Now the prosecution is doing its best on whatever evidence and witnesses we have to move forward. I will not like to jump the gun," Basit said.

The Pak High Commissioner said even if Lakhvi is granted bail media should not create a "hype" over it Basit further requested the media "not to create any hype" regarding the issue as it may indirectly affect the judicial process in the neighbouring country.

"Even if he is granted bail, why to create hype? I do not understand because the trial hasn't stopped. Please try to understand how judiciary functions in Pakistan," he said.

"By creating a hype you are indirectly affecting the judicial process in Pakistan. Let the judicial process take its course and as far as prosecution is concerned, I can assure you that we are doing our best."

Basit said it would have been better if India would agree to Pakistan's proposal for a joint investigation after the Mumbai attack

"We had proposed a joint investigation immediately after the horrific incident. But things have now changed. I do not want to go into history as to what happened. We are very serious and the prosecution is earnest. So let's hope things will come to a logical conclusion," he said.

"As I say terrorism is a huge problem for us. You may have a 26/11, but we face these tragedies almost everyday in Pakistan..."Terrorism is our common problem, our common issue. So rather than blaming and counter-blaming as well as accusing, we should cooperate and I think it's time has come," he said.