M A I N   N E W S

Malik’s U-turn: Didn’t equate Babri with terror
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
Faced with criticism over his remarks, visiting Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik today said he had never compared the demolition of the Babri mosque with terror acts such as the 26/11 attack or Samjhauta blasts.

“Please see the footage of the (yesterday) event. I never said I am comparing Babri mosque with Bombay blasts (attacks) or Samjhauta blasts. I said that we should take steps so that we do not see a repeat of such incidents,” Malik told a gathering of select reporters here

Malik said before his departure from Pakistan, he was actually warned about the possibility of new issues being raised in India during his visit. “The moment I entered, a 15-year-old case (pertaining to Saurabh Kalia), which is not part of bilateral discussion, was raised (by the media)”.

Regarding issues being taken up by him with India, Malik said “We want the details of the probe into the Abu Jundal case be shared with us. We want to know whether our non-state actors and Indian non-state actors were working for some third country?”

Malik said he has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reconsider his decision on visiting Pakistan. On the ongoing 26/11 case trial in a Rawalpindi court, the Pakistan minister said, “We have the evidence, but we cannot circumvent the procedure under law. Around 20 witnesses have been examined and a judicial commission is coming to cross-examine the four witnesses in Mumbai.” “We know that the evidence is irrefutable and attempts were being made to fast-track the case,” said Malik.

He said the new liberalised visa agreement will help in bilateral trade and easier movement of visitors, elders, children, patients and divided families. Regarding the case of Sarabjit Singh, Malik said: “I have to go through the judgment. The final authority to decide is the President. The family has to apply for mercy petition after all legal remedies are exhausted”. Asked specifically if a decision could be done before the next elections in Pakistan in March 2013, Malik said: “I will not say that”.

PM, Sushma raise 26/11 with Malik

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj raised the issue of pending trial against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks with Malik
• Malik, who had a 15-minute talk with the PM, said a Pakistani judicial commission will be sent to India and efforts would be made to conclude the trial as soon as possible.
• In the evening, Malik called on Sushma who also pressed for a speedy trial of the 26/11 case in Pakistan.