Bring perpetrators of 26/11 attack to justice: US asks Pak

Lalit K Jha

Washington, June 4 (PTI) Concerned over the release of
Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, allegedly
linked to the 26/11 attacks, the US Thursday asked Pakistan to
bring to justice perpetrators of last year's terror attack on
Mumbai.

India and the US have maintained that terrorist leaders
based in Pakistan were responsible for the strike.

"We believe the Government of Pakistan should continue
its investigation to ensure that all those who are responsible
for the attack are in fact brought to justice," Assistant
Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Philip J Crowley told
reporters at the State Department press briefing.

"We continue to impress upon the Government of Pakistan,
the importance of bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai
attacks to justice," he said in response to a query.

Under fire from India and the US over the release of
Saeed, Pakistan on Wednesday said it will challenge the Lahore
High Court's decision to set Saeed free in the Supreme Court.

Lahore High Court on Tuesday allowed Saeed's petition
challenging his detention and ordered his immediate release,
holding the detention of the 59-year-old founder of the
Lashker-e-Toiba as illegal.

While noting that the US respects the rule of law in
Pakistan, Crowley said: "We just want to make sure that
Pakistan is in fact acting aggressively against extremist
elements within its borders." PTI LKJ
RAI