Lahore: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
on Sunday acknowledged that the case of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz
Saeed was an "issue" between Pakistan and India but said
Islamabad needs "substantial" evidence against him to try him
in a court of law.
"We are serious on the issue of Saeed but the question is
how to proceed against him without evidence. Courts here are
independent and we need substantial evidence against him,"
Gilani said while interacting with a group of reporters at his
residence Lahore this evening.
Gilani further said it had been agreed that the Interior
and Home Secretaries of the two countries would discuss the
issue when they meet on April 16.
He said that former premier Nawaz Sharif too had asked him
about the government's stance on the issue of Saeed.
Saeed, the founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been in
focus after the US offered a USD 10 million bounty for him
last week.
Gilani has said in parliament that the case of Saeed is an
"internal issue" of Pakistan and any evidence against him
should be provided to Islamabad so that it could be examined
by the courts.
Responding to a question about groups like JuD fanning
extremism in Pakistan, Gilani said: "I have ordered action
against all proscribed organisations".
He said there should be peace between India and Pakistan
and it was in the interest of both countries as well as the
region.
"(Indian Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh and I are
committed to bringing stability to the region. We will take
every possible step towards peace and stability," he said
hours after President Asif Ali Zardari met Singh in New Delhi.
Asked about trade with India, Gilani said: "Trade
relations are beneficials for each other. Even China had asked
us to have trade with India as it is good for both countries".
He said the Pakistan People's Party-led government had the
mandate of the opposition and the people to forge good
relations with India.
"The army should be with us on this matter," he added.
He said President Zardari daylong private tour of India
would help improve relations between the two countries.
Responding to another question, he said: "All issues,
including Kashmir, can be resolved through dialogue".
PTI
First Published: Sunday, April 08, 2012, 23:44