Pakistani court 'releases leader of group linked to attacks'

A lawyer for the leader of an Islamic group suspected in the deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai last year said a Pakistani court has ordered his release.

Lawyer AK Dogar said the Lahore High Court ruled there is no reason to hold Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who is the head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, an Islamist group widely believed to be a front for the militant network that carried out the Mumbai attacks.

Independent confirmation of today’s decision was not immediately available.

Mr Saeed was among four people who were detained late last year and questioned in connection to the attacks in the Indian city that killed 166 people in November.

India has said it suspects militants based in Pakistan may have been behind the attacks.