(Image source from: Jail converted to luxury place for Lakhvi})

The 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi is living a luxury life behind the bars. The LeT operation commander has access to internet, mobile phones and visitors inside jail despite of Pakistan’s protestations that it is cracking down on militants.

According to a report, 55-year-old Lakhvi is imprisoned in Rawalpindi’s straggling high- security Adiala Jail.

“They have the jailer’s permission to have a television, mobile phones and access to internet, as well as dozens of visitors a day,” said news.

Despite facing such serious charges, Lakhvi and his co-conspirators have several rooms at their disposal right next to the jailer’s office, it said.

Lakhvi “can receive any number of guests, any time of day or night, seven days a week”, a jail official said.

No special permission is required, and his visitors are not even required to identify themselves to jail authorities.

“This would be unthinkable anywhere else, but elements in the Pakistani establishment are known to have provided such facilities to certain jailed militant commanders who they believe they may need in future for reasons of national security,” it said.

“On an average, he receives about 100 visitors every day; they are escorted to his private quarters where they can meet him without the watch of jail guards, and can stay for as long as they like,” it said, citing a jail official.

Lakhvi is believed to be a close relative of Let founder and Jamat-Ud Dawa (JUD) chief Hafiz Saeed.
It is barely few months that Pakistan people and police were disturbed by the terror attack on Peshawar Army School, killing children. Pakistan had resumed executions after lifting moratorium in the wake of attack at the Peshawar school massacre. So how it can be that this militant is spared? Is Pakistan police allowing him to avail luxury inside jail out of fear? 

- Smrutirekha