Karachi, Jan 12: Clearly in no mood to handover Mumbai terror suspects to India, Pakistan on Monday said it will
conduct its own investigation into the dossier given by New Delhi and punish any person found involved under its own
laws.
Contrary to earlier claims that Pakistan has given its
feedback to India on the evidence shared with it, media
reports here said that Islamabad was still examining the
dossier.
"We will react like a responsible country and as I said
yesterday, if they (India) have some evidence or identify that
Pakistani soil was used by any terrorist, we will conduct an
inquiry and investigation," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
told reporters during an official function at the shipyard in
this southern port city.
"If (the charges) are proved, we will punish the persons
concerned according to our own laws because we can't allow
Pakistan's soil to be used for terrorism. We are totally clear
on this," he said.
Gilani, who had yesterday ruled out handing over any
Pakistani national found to be involved in the Mumbai attacks
to India or any other country, said that Islamabad was not
acting on anyone's pressure.
Asked about statements by Indian leaders calling on
Pakistan to do more against elements in the country who were
linked to the Mumbai attacks, Gilani said, "We are a
responsible and strong country, we are not acting on anyone's
pressure. We know how to defend the country".
Gilani dismissed media speculation that the
Pakistan government had reached an understanding with the
US for allowing drone attacks in the country's northwestern
tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.
"There is no such understanding. This is a matter
involving the sovereignty of the country and we can never give
permission for something that affects Pakistan's sovereignty,"
he said.
Gilani said his government had "successfully isolated
militants by working with the local tribes". The drone attacks
are counter-productive as it prompts the "tribes and militants
to come together again".
Asked about Pakistan government's decision to bestow
one of the country's highest civilian honours on US Vice
President-elect Joseph Biden, a move that has been criticised
by opposition and Islamic hardline parties, Gilani said, "As
far as Biden is concerned, he is pro-Pakistan. He has given a
lot of support for Pakistan and democracy".
Biden also had a "big role" in getting former
President Pervez Musharraf to doff his military uniform, he
said.
Bureau Report