Author: Rezaul H Laskar
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: December 22, 2008
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nawaz-dissents-kasab-from-pak-lets-put-our-own-house-in-order/400826/
A day after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari
told the BBC there was no "real evidence" that the Mumbai attackers
came from his country, former premier Nawaz Sharif said he had "personally
checked" that surviving terrorist Ajmal Ameer Kasab belonged to Faridkot
village in Pakistani Punjab.
"It has been said this individual named
Ajmal Kasab hails from Faridkot village. I have seen and I personally got
this checked. The village and its surrounding areas have been cordoned off
by security agencies. His parents are not being allowed to meet anyone,"
Sharif told Geo News.
"What was the need to do this? If (Kasab)
is not involved (in the Mumbai attacks), then he is not involved. People and
the media should be allowed to meet everyone in that area," Sharif said.
He added: "All this points to the fact that we too need to set our house
in order."
After reporters from Pakistan's Dawn and the
UK's The Observer tracked down Kasab's family in Faridkot, local officials
and security agencies stopped the entry of outsiders into the area. Protesters
scuffled with the media for "defaming" the village.
Hours after Sharif's statements, Zardari's
party, the PPP, said his comments were "unfortunate", but did not
specifically deny any part of what he had said.
Information Minister Sherry Rehman said: "It
is unfortunate that the leadership of a major political party... chooses a
sensitive time to launch an attack on the government... We don't wish to trade
in a war of words... We appeal to all political leaders to remain united leaving
aside their political differences."
Sharif said the PPP was making Pakistan look
like a "failed state". He also slammed the Army: "Since 1977,
the Army has ruled for more than 20 years... A state subjected to frequent
military intervention in politics can only become ungovernable," he said.
