Ready to act against Hafiz Saeed, says Pakistan

Pakistan has said it is ready to take action against Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed but added that India should give 'concrete evidence' that stands 'legal scrutiny' and holds him responsible for the Mumbai terror attacks.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi insisted that his country was committed to bringing the perpetrators of 26/11 to justice but could not give any specific time-frame for conclusion of the trial in the case as the judiciary acted independently.

He termed as 'preposterous' any suggestion that there is some sort of nexus between the Inter Services Intelligence and Mumbai terror attacks, rubbishing the contention by Pakistani-American Laskhar-e-Tayiba operative David Headley in this regard.

"The government of Pakistan has detained Hafiz Saeed several times but for the lack of evidence, our courts would order his release," Qureshi told PTI in an email interview.

"We are ready to take action. We have asked India to share with us in case they have some concrete evidence which could stand legal scrutiny," he said.

India has claimed that it has provided ample evidence about Saeed's role in the Mumbai attacks and Pakistan should follow it up and initiate legal proceedings against the JuD chief.

The fresh dossier containing more information about Saeed's role in 26/11 attacks on the basis of Headley's revelations was given by Home Minister P Chidambaram to his Pakistani counterpart Rahman Malik during his visit to Islamabad in June.

Noting that courts take decisions on legal merit, Qureshi said, "We, therefore, did not find it out of the ordinary when the Indian nationals accused in the Mumbai trial were acquitted by the Indian court for lack of sufficient evidence."

He was referring to the acquittal in May of Fahim Ansari and Sabaudin Ahmed, who were accused of conducting reconnaissance and preparing maps of the 26/11 targets. The Mumbai trial court acquitted them for lack of evidence.

Qureshi refused to comment when queried about India's contention that Pakistani-American LeT David Headley, who has admitted his role in Mumbai attacks, had talked about the involvement of ISI and Hafiz Saeed in 26/11 and that details in this regard have been given to Pakistan.

"The suggestion that there is some sort of nexus between ISI and Mumbai attacks is preposterous, to say the least," the Pakistan foreign minister said.

On India's insistence that Pakistan should act on the information provided by Headley, he said, "We are committed to bringing the perpetrators of the crime to justice."

He said India had been assured time and again that Pakistan was committed to bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice.

"But if you ask me to give you a definitive timeframe for the conclusion of the trial, that is asking for too much in a democratic set-up, where the judiciary is independent and cannot be dictated by the Executive. This is indeed also the case in India," he said.

Pakistan has arrested seven accused in the Mumbai attacks, including LeT's operational commander Zaki-ur Rahman Lakhvi and their trial is underway. India has been saying that the trial has been slow and needs to be expedited.

While underlining Pakistan's 'commitment' to fighting terrorism, Qureshi said his country 'continues to suffer, more than any other country' on account of the scourge.

"We are fighting the pernicious evil of terrorism on a daily basis," he said, while pointing out that there have been more than 250 suicide attacks in Pakistan in the last nine years, killing over 3,000 and injuring over 6,500 innocent people.

"Terrorism is a global, regional and local phenomenon at the same time," he said, adding "what we need is cooperation at all levels to eradicate this menace."

He maintained that Pakistan is committed not to allow its territory for terrorism anywhere in the world. "We expect the same from India," he said.