Pak “Not Obliged” to Immediately Arrest Saeed: Malik

Claiming evidence provided by India on 26/11 attacks insufficient, Pakistan has said that it is “not obliged” to instantly nab Jammat-ud-Dawah chief and Laskar-e-Toiba founder Hafiz Saeed despite Interpol’s Red Corner notice.

“Pakistan needs to examine the evidence provided by India on the basis of which Interpol issued a Red Corner notice against Hafiz Saeed. Certain procedures are required to pursue the notice,” Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said.

Malik, in an interview to Saudi daily Arab News, said that though Interpol has issued a Red Corner notice against Saeed, the government was “not obliged to immediately arrest him”.

“We are free to make our own investigations against the man, and then take steps accordingly,” he said.

Furthermore, the minister said that the proof handed by India in three dossiers “is, in our considered view, not sufficient to link Hafiz Saeed to the (Mumbai) attack and to punish those who are guilty”.

“We appeal to India to share information with us, and also to keep faith in our legal system and judiciary,” he said.

Malik also reiterated his claim that India could have averted the Mumbai attacks by sharing information with Pakistan.

“Let me tell you, India could have prevented the terror attacks in Mumbai if they had shared intelligence with us after the arrest of two terrorists – Fahim Ansari and Sabah Uddin,” he said.