Islamabad: Pakistan has asked India to
send its police officers and magistrates who recorded the
statement of Ajmal Kasab, the terrorist sentenced to death for
his role in the 26/11 attacks, to testify in a local court.
The request was conveyed during a meeting between
Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Indian High Commissioner
Sharat Sabharwal last night, sources were quoted as saying in
media reports.
Malik told journalists after the meeting that an FIR
was registered in Pakistan against Kasab on the basis of the
statement he made in India.
Under Pakistani law, Kasab needs to be presented in
the court conducting the trial of seven Pakistani suspects in
the Mumbai terror attacks, he said.
"As the Indian government has already turned down a
request by Islamabad to send Kasab to Pakistan, therefore, it
has been requested to send the magistrates and the police
officials who recorded the statement," Malik said.
If the Indian magistrates and police officials do not
appear before the Pakistani court, it might declare Kasab a
proclaimed offender, he said.
On Saturday, the Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court
conducting the trial of the seven Pakistani suspects,
including Lashker-e-Taiba operations commander Zakiur Rehman
Lakhvi, issued fresh arrest warrants for Kasab and Fahim
Ansari, an Indian national who has been acquitted by an Indian
court.
Malik also said he had received a letter from his
Indian counterpart P Chidambaram that reiterated India`s
resolve to jointly tackle terrorism.
"Progress is under way on agreed points between the
two countries regarding maintaining regional peace and
stability and joint steps against terrorism," he said.
He said the people of Pakistan and India will soon
hear "good news" as both countries have chalked out a roadmap
to address all contentious issues.
"Pakistan and India have prepared a roadmap and in the
coming weeks, people will hear good news, though at this point
we have agreed not to disclose details of the roadmap and the
planning being done to jointly fight terrorism," he said
without further elaboration.
PTI
