ISLAMABAD : Pakistan for the first time admitted that some part of the conspiracy of Mumbai terrorist attacks was hatched in Pakistan and government has registered First Information Report (FIR) against the culprits and asked India to provide answers of 30 questions raised by investigators for strong prosecution of the culprits.
"Some part of the conspiracy of Mumbai carnage was plotted in Pakistan but major part was shaped in India and terrorists used the system of America, many European and Middle East countries to make their plan a success," said Rehman Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior told a press conference here on Thursday.
"We have lodged a proper FIR No 01-2009, in Special Investigation Unite of FIA, against eight suspected terrorists on the basis of inquiry conducted by a high-level Pakistani investigation team," Rehman said, adding that Pakistan wants to prosecute them and make them example for others, which needs solid evidences and India should provide us details.
He said six of the eight accused of the Mumbai plot belonged to defunct Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and have been taken into custody and are being interrogated. Initial inquiry of the incident in view of the Indian information, the investigation has two parts one in Pakistan while another in India, he said, adding that some part of the conspiracy of Mumbai attacks was hatched in Pakistan, however, links have been found in other states including USA, Austria, Spain, Italy and Russia.
He pointed out that an amount of $238 was transferred from Spain to acquire a domain used for communication over the Internet. It was registered in Houston, Texas USA. Another domain name used by the attackers was registered in Russia, and a satellite phone registered in a Middle Eastern country.
A Pakistani, Javed Iqbal of Barcelona was repatriated and arrested in connection with the payment of US $238. Rehman said that initial inquiry reveals that a total nine persons reached India through sea route while sailing from Thatta (Sindh), but it has yet to be determined that how did they manage to reach there.
"We have located the mastermind of this conspiracy as Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and detained him and grilling him, besides we have detained main financier of the Mumbai attacks Hammad Amin Sadiq, the payments made to plotters were made from his account," Rehman Malik said, adding other people have been identified as Javed Iqbal, Khan and Zarar Shah.
"Indian authorities were asked to provide more information so that the culprits could be given strong prosecution," Malik said, adding that India should not consider it that Pakistan is passing responsibility on India. Pakistan has the dossier and sent 30 questions to seek their answers regarding the probe, he said, adding that Pakistan needs tenable evidences regarding the incident.
"We need to know why the boats of terrorists were refuelled in Indian Gujarat during their travel to Mumbai and why they were not stopped and how can they enter Mumbai along with huge quantity of arms and ammunition," he asked. "We also need information that how these people travelled to India on boat and dodged the Indian Navy," he asked.
Malik said that India should provide the diaries and other documents it seized, statement of Ajmal Kasab, finger prints of Kasab and his accomplices, intercepted conversation, details of SIMs used by the culprits for interaction, ID card, other documents, photo images of other nine terrorists, besides DNA of Ajmal Kasab and the nine people.
He said during the terrorist attack, the culprits used words of 'Chacha' and 'Lakhvi' and identified these people by pictures, where from these pictures came. Malik said a bank account was found opened in Pakistan of a person who was involved in 26/11 attacks, adding some transactions were done from this account. "We have located the places used by terrorists as hideouts before leaving for India, some accused have been arrested and they have given details," he added.
He said terrorists used three boats to travel from Pakistan to Mumbai and the boats have been identified along with the crew. "We have traced the details of the crew went to Mumbai with terrorists and the shop has also been traced from which the boats were bought along with other material used in the terrorist strike," he added.
The boats used by the suspects are Al Husani and Al Fauz and have been seized, while its buyer and crewmembers have also been arrested and are being interrogated. He said that Pakistan had assured India of its full co-operation in the investigations of Mumbai attacks and soon after the terrorist strike, Pakistani leadership talked to India and offered unconditional support. Pakistan is itself victim of terrorism for long and it will support every movement against terrorism, he added.
Pakistan was keen to bring culprits to book as it has assured the international community that it is serious in bringing the culprits to justice and fight terror. India should stop blame game and come forward with positive mind and open heart to eliminate terrorism from the region, Rehman Malik said, adding that Indian had levelled allegation like Mumbai attacks against Pakistan when Samjhota Express was burnt, but later an Indian colonel was found guilty. Malik reiterated that all the culprits would be punished in Pakistan under the law of land.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2009 |
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