Islamabad also demanded “concrete” evidence against Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the attack
Amidst reports that a non-official back channel has been activated to bring about a thaw in Indo-Pak relationship and to pave way for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana in June, Pakistan is adamant on keeping the atmosphere vitiated.
On Thursday, it rejected India’s demand for a reinvestigation of the 26/11 Mumbai attack case. Quoting official sources, PTI reported from Islamabad that the trial was “not possible” as it was at an advanced stage. Islamabad also demanded “concrete” evidence against Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the attack.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said that it was a matter of concern that even after eight years, the masterminds and planners of the attack continue to enjoy freedom in Pakistan.
“It is the Pakistan government’s responsibility to bring to book all those involved in conspiring, executing and mounting the attack, in which 166 people were killed,” he said.
Early last month, in reply to Pakistan’s request to send 24 Indian witnesses to record their statements, India had asked Pakistan to reinvestigate the attack and put on trial Jammat-ud-Dawa chief Saeed, who is currently under house arrest in Lahore.
“We have received a reply from the Indian government in response to our letter regarding sending 24 Indian witnesses to Pakistan to record their statements. Instead of entertaining our request, India had sought the reinvestigation of the case and demanded trial of Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiba operation commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in the light of the evidence it had provided to Pakistan,” a Pakistani Interior Ministry official said.
The Pakistan government, on January 30, had put Saeed and the four leaders of JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat under house arrest in Lahore.
On Thursday, Pakistani officials said that there was no question of reopening the trial. “All proceedings (in the case) have been finalised, except the recording of statements of 24 Indian witnesses. At this stage, reinvestigation is not possible. If India wants the case to conclude, it should send its witnesses to Pakistan,” they said. “India had only mentioned in its dossier that Ajmal Kasab (the lone terrorist captured alive) had once met Saeed. Thousands of people meet him (Saeed). That doesn’t prove anything. Pakistan is willing to try Saeed in the 26/11 case, provided India gives us solid evidence against him,” PTI said, quoting Pakistani officials.
The trial has been pending for seven years and India has urged Pakistan to complete it at the earliest. It has said that enough evidence has been shared with Pakistan. But no proceeding in the case has been held on Wednesday -- the day fixed for hearing - at the Adiala jail, Rawalpindi, by an anti-terrorism court.
The trial court has already completed recording statements of all witnesses here and their cross-examination and other records have also been presented before it.
Lakhvi and Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum face charges of abetment to murder, attempt to murder, and planning and executing the attack. Lakhvi was freed two years ago after he secured bail. The other six suspects are in Adiala jail.
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