Bring Perpetrators of 26/11 to Justice, US tells Pak

Taking strict note of the release of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the JuD chief and alleged mastermind of Mumbai terror attack, the US has asked Pakistan to bring to justice perpetrators of last year’s terror strike.

The US, like India, has maintained from the start that terrorist heads based in Pakistan were behind the strike.

“We believe the Government of Pakistan should continue its investigation to ensure that all those who are responsible for the attack are in fact brought to justice,” Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Philip J Crowley told media persons at the State Department press briefing.

“We continue to impress upon the Government of Pakistan, the importance of bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice,” he said in response to a query.

Pakistan, yielding to the vehement US and Indian disapproval over Saeed’s release, yesterday said that it would challenge the Lahore High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court.

Needless to mention, Lahore High Court on Tuesday allowed Saeed’s petition challenging his detention and ordered his immediate release, holding the detention of the 59-year-old founder of the Lashker-e-Toiba as illegal.

While noting that the US respects the rule of law in Pakistan, Crowley said: “We just want to make sure that Pakistan is in fact acting aggressively against extremist elements within its borders.”