Mumbai attacks’ leads go out of Pakistan: Malik

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Interior adviser says initial probe report will arrive in 10 days
* Verifiable info will be converted into proof for criminal case

By Tahir Niaz

ISLAMABAD: Leads found in Pakistani investigation into the Mumbai terrorist attacks indicate involvement of foreigners, Interior Adviser Rehman Malik said on Saturday.

“So far the leads shared with me by the investigators go out of the country,” he said at a press conference at the Ministry of Interior. Malik said a committee was also analysing the information India had shared with Pakistan to transform it into verifiable evidence for legal action.

“We are not registering a criminal case right now. Let the preliminary report come and if prima facie something substantial comes, we would convert it into a criminal case,” the adviser said.

The preliminary report would be presented within 10 days, Malik said. But he denied the deadline had been set under foreign pressure, adding that the probe would be ‘legal and tangible’. He denied British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had asked Pakistan to increase the pace of the investigation.

“We will follow the international procedures and Pakistani laws to investigate the Mumbai attacks in the light of information provided by India, but no dictations will be taken from any side,” he said.

The suspects detained under the Maintenance of Public Order law would be released if found innocent, the adviser added. Malik called for interaction between Indian and Pakistani investigators and asked the ‘Indian friends’ to show patience.

“It took 42 days for India to provide information to Pakistan, and it will take some time [for Pakistan] to investigate the matter. They should give more time to us,” he said.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_1