Rehman Malik tries to cut more ice

Prime minister Manmohan Singh is keen to improve relations with Pakistan and is not averse to visit Pakistan yet he chose not to because of lack of progress in the investigation and trial of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.

Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik said, “I asked the prime minister why don’t you come to Pakistan? The president has already invited him and his friends at Chakwal village, where he studied in a primary school, were very keen to meet him. But, he said, my people here would ask me what have you done regarding Mumbai terror attacks? He also said that the country is keen to know about the master mind of 26/11”

Malik said he told Singh that once the judicial commission completes collecting evidence the trial will hopefully come to a conclusion soon.

Malik was speaking at a luncheon meeting hosted by the Supreme Court Bar Association soon after meeting Manmohan Singh at his residence for half-an-hour.

Describing Singh not only as the prime minister of India but also as a visionary leader of the world, Malik once again reiterated the need for India and Pakistan to come together for the greater good of people and benefit to both the countries.

Referring to his talks with Singh, Malik said he got Hafiz Saeed arrested three times but each time courts granted him bail. “I have handed over court papers to the prime minister,” he said.
Malik reiterated that courts don’t consider information as evidence and one statement by Kasab is not enough. If India gives concrete evidence against Saeed he would do his best to put him on trial as he has no love lost for Hafiz Saeed, he said.

Sources told DNA that Pakistan has given clearance to the team of home ministry officials to visit Pakistan next week to fix up the modalities of Pakistan’s judicial commission that is slated to come to India to cross examine prosecution witnesses in 26/11 case. Pakistan has also cleared the visit of NIA team which will go to the country next month to see progress made by Pakistan’s agencies in 26/11 probe. Pakistan’s court had earlier trashed its Judicial Commission’s report saying that merely recording of statement does not count as evidence in law.

Malik later met BJP leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj who raised the issues of persecution of Hindus in Pakistan and the slow pace of 26/11 trial and slow pace of investigations.

Cold shouldering Malik, Swaraj asked him why so many Pakistani Hindus are seeking refuge in India?

Sushma said Malik denied having spoken on Babri and also said that though they have taken action against some people in Pakistan for persecuting Hindus, the truth is different from what is being projected. Malik has asked his high commissioner to probe the persecution claims of Hindus who have come to India, Sushma said.