Homeland Security

Pakistan seeks inquiry report on Mumbai attacks in 10 days

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 17,IRNA -- Pakistan has asked officials investigating the attacks on the Indian commercial center Mumbai to submit its preliminary report in 10 days, the country's interior ministry chief said Saturday.

Pakistan had constituted on Thursday a three-member team to investigate the Mumbai attacks and examine the information provided by India.

"I have given the team 10 days to present preliminary report," Rehman Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior told a news conference.

Malik explained the terms of reference for the investigating team, which was directed to conduct "a transparent and legally tenable inquiry".

The investigators will "establish legally verifiable credentials of suspects allegedly involved in the terrorist attack".

The team will "inquire into the available information supplied by India with the view to transform (it) into evidence for further legal action". It will also collect "all other related evidence for legal action according to the law of Pakistan".

The advisor said all further action would be taken according to Pakistani laws and renewed Pakistan's call for a joint probe into the incident.

"Our investigators must interact. If you want good and quick results, please allow your investigators to interact with us." He said the "best course of action" would be for investigators from both sides to interact and share information because terrorists are the "common enemies" of India and Pakistan.

Asked about British Foreign Secretary David Miliband's comments yesterday that Pakistan needs to go "farther and faster" in prosecuting those involved in the Mumbai attacks, Malik said, "We will not accept anyone's instructions to do things faster." The law of the land will take its own course. There will be cooperation and discussions but no dictation," he said.
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EndNews / IRNA / News Code 307887