New Delhi: Disappointed at Lahore High
Court`s decision to scrap terror cases against Jamaat-ud Dawa
chief Hafiz Saeed, India today said it would take up the issue
with Pakistan as it was given to understand that formal
investigation would be conducted against him.
Maintaining that Pakistan should investigate Saeed in the
Mumbai attack case, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said
India had provided evidence about his being the "brain behind"
the strike but he was not booked in that case.
"Our talks with Pakistan Foreign Minister was somewhat on
this line that formal investigation would be done on Hafiz
Saeed with reference to Mumbai," Krishna told reporters while
referring to his meeting with Shah Mahmood Qureshi in New York
on the sidelines of UN General Assembly last month.
"We will take up the matter with Pakistan government...
We will certainly take up with Pakistan," Krishna said hours
after the Lahore High Court ordered quashing of two terror
cases against Saeed who had been booked for inciting people in
the name of jihad and inviting funds for the same.
Krishna noted that Saeed was under clout for the
inflammatory speeches he made in Jalalabad. "But, Hafiz Saeed,
as far as my knowledge goes, was not probed by the Pakistan
government for his role in attack on Mumbai though we still
insist that the Pakistan Government must investigate Haifz
Saeed for the role he played."
Cong, BJP voice concern
A Pakistani court`s decision
to quash cases against Mumbai terror attack mastermind and JuD
chief Hafiz Saeed today evoked strong reactions from political
parties here with Congress terming it a "serious development"
while BJP described it as a "big setback" for India.
"It is a serious development. We have given enough
evidence to the authorities in Pakistan regarding the
involvement of Saeed in the Mumbai attack last year.
The
international community should take note of it," party
spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said.
He alleged the development means that Pakistani
authorities did not properly present the evidence given by
India against Saeed in the court.
"The government of India should take note of it and
take necessary steps. We consider him (Saeed) the mastermind
of 26/11 attacks in Mumbai," Ahmed added.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, " The Lahore
High Court order today giving a clean chit to Hafiz Saeed is
proof that Pakistan does not want to take action against
Mumbai terror attack accused".
He argued India had provided ample proof that the JuD
Chief was the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks but Pakistan
still maintained that he was not involved and presented this
view in the court to help him go free.
Bureau Report
