Acting against JuD leaders: Pakistan says will not succumb to US pressure

Pakistan on Thursday declared that it would not succumb to the US pressure for acting against Hafiz Saeed and Abdul Rehman Makki, against whom even the US authorities have not any evidence linking them to terrorism. Responding to various questions about the US bounties on the top Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) leadership during the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said.
Pakistan has adopted a legal and principled position on the issue that it can not proceed against them without any concrete evidence. "I have no comment to make as to the purpose of the US move, but Pakistan will not come under any pressure because our stand is principled and legal," he said in response to a question whether bounty on Saeed and the new procedures for PIA flights operating to the US are part of Washington pressure tactics to get the Nato supply routes reopened.
He further said that both Pakistan and the US were democratic countries and such issues should be advanced through a legal procedure. He said that Islamabad had clearly stated its position on Hafiz Saeed issue that there was no concrete evidence, adding Pakistan would prefer to have concrete evidence to initiate a legal process but in the absence of that we cannot do anything. "There is no reason for us to believe that the US does not respect our judicial and legal system," he maintained, adding that all such issues have to be addressed through legal procedures and it was not desirable to get into public discussion on these issues.
He said Washington has not taken Islamabad into confidence before announcing bounties on the JuD leaders, adding that the government of Pakistan could not proceed against any individual without undeniable and maintainable evidence. When asked whether Osama-like operation was anticipated against Hafiz Saeed being on the US most wanted list, the spokesman said that the US had clarified its position on the issue on Wednesday saying that the announcement of bounty was for providing information or evidence against the two JuD leaders, meaning that there is not enough evidence yet against them. We find it somewhat strange, he maintained.
To another question as to why the government of Pakistan banned Lashkar-e-Tayyeba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Hafiz Saeed's entry into Islamabad capital territory if it does not have any proof against him, the spokesman said that these were two different things- organisations and individuals.
He also rejected the notion that Pakistan was under the US pressure to expedite the parliamentary review for restoration of Nato's supply line, saying the parliamentary process for new terms of engagement with the US and Nato was still underway and Islamabad would proceed further on all the matters in accordance with the parliament's guidelines.
However, he said that doors of discussion with the US were open to sort out differences on all the issues including the drone strikes. He said both the countries have been working together to achieve the shared objective. He also expressed the hope that once the parliamentary process completes, both the countries would be able to work more effectively towards eradicating the menace of terrorism.
To a question, he said Salala incident was a setback to bilateral relations between Pakistan and the US. "But we want to put it back to the level where it has been earlier," he added. He, however, said Pakistan has maintained its position that action should be taken against those involved in the Salala check post incident. To a question regarding Afghanistan, the spokesman said Pakistan believes in the intra Afghan dialogue process to promote genuine and authentic reconciliation process in that country.
About funding of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, he said that Pakistan has been discussing bilateral co-operation with Russia in the field of energy and a technical delegation was to visit Moscow to carry forward the discussions, but, he added that he had not the updates on the visit. About North Korea issue, he said that Pakistan wants resolution of North Korean's nuclear programme through a six-party dialogue.