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| India-Pakistan |
| AjmalÂ’s village sealed: Sharif |
| 2008-12-20 |
| ISLAMABAD: In a potential embarrassment to the Zardari government, the former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has revealed that Pakistani authorities have sealed a village in Pakistan’s Punjab province to which journalists traced the origins of Ajmal Amir ‘Kasab’, the lone surviving gunman in the Mumbai attacks, and are preventing the media from meeting his family. The disclosure is bound to prompt questions in India and the international community if the Pakistan government was engaged in a “clean-up” of evidence after investigations by two Pakistani media outlets — Dawn newspaper and Geo Television — and T he Observer established that Ajmal belonged to Faridkot village in Okara district of Punjab. President Asif Ali Zardari had said media exposes were not enough to prove the gunman’s links to Pakistan, and that India had to provide “real evidence.” “It has been said that this Ajmal ‘Kasab’ belongs to Faridkot village. I have personally checked that the village and its surrounding areas have been cordoned off. His parents are not being allowed to meet anyone,” the Pakistan Muslim League (N) leader said in an interview to Geo Television on Thursday. “Why, and for what has this been done? If he is not involved [in the Mumbai attacks], then he is not involved. People should be allowed to meet everyone in the village,” Mr. Sharif said. “The media should be allowed to meet his parents, and let them say they have not seen him for two or three years,” he said, adding that “all this points to the fact that we too need to set our own house in order.” The former premier said Pakistan “at this time, is presenting a picture of a failed state.” Later, Mr. Sharif’s party clarified that the former premier’s remarks could not be construed as his acceptance that Ajmal was a Pakistani. Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court has admitted a petition by a PPP activist against Geo TV for reporting Ajmal’s links to Faridkot. The petitioner said the report had “damaged” Pakistan’s image in the world. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #3 "At this time" my left hind leg. Pakistan has been a failed state since it was created. The only way to rectify the error is to "uncreate" Pakistan, and divide its territory between Afghanistan and India. The only way to get the ISI out of the terrorist business is to disband it and the country that supports it. The sooner the better. If it requires cratering a lot of folks' houses (and all of Pakistan's cities), that's too bad. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2008-12-20 12:50 |
| #2 The former premier said Pakistan “at this time, is presenting a picture of a failed state.” Yes. "At this time"... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-12-20 10:34 |
| #1 Ajmal Amir ‘Kasab’ embarrassed the government; as a warning to others authorities have |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2008-12-20 09:08 |