India stalling Mumbai case, not Pakistan: FO

Spokesperson says legal process stalled due to India's reluctance to send witnesses for cross examination

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Sunday blamed India for delay in the conclusion of Mumbai attack case after the United States called for the prosecution of Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi not just in terror financing case but also in the November 2008 attack.

Lakhvi was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab from Lahore in connection with running a medical dispensary to collect funds for terrorism financing last week.

On January 8, ATC-III Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar handed down five years rigorous imprisonment to the alleged founder of LeT with a fine of Rs100,000 each on three counts.

The US State Department in a statement said it was encouraged by the conviction of Lakhvi, which Washington and New Delhi said was the mastermind of Mumbai attacks.

The State Department, however, said Lakhvi's crime was far beyond just terror financing, asking Pakistan to prosecute him in the attack on Indian financial capital.

"Pakistan is fully abiding by its own statutes and fulfillment of its international obligations," Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

"The investigations, prosecutions & subsequent convictions, through due process, are a reflection of effectiveness of Pakistan’s legal system, which operates independent of any extraneous factors or influences," Zahid Hafiz Chaudhri said.

He went on to add that the legal process in the ‘Mumbai Case’ remains stalled due to reluctance by Indian side to send witnesses for cross examination by Pakistani court.

Responding to the US statement, the spokesperson said the State Department was encouraged to reserve its concern for the active aiding, abetting, planning, promoting, financing & execution of terrorist activities by India for which sufficient irrefutable evidence had already been provided.

Pakistan has recently provided what it said "irrefutable proof" showing Indian involvement in sponsoring terrorism in the country. The dossiers provide details of Indian role behind funding anti Pakistan terrorist groups.

Pakistan on Saturday also categorically rejected Indian statement that called Lakhvi's conviction as "farcical". Pakistan made it clear India had no locus standi in the case.