ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik said on Wednesday that India always blames Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency without any evidence and never apologises. He was addressing a press conference in Islamabad.

While claiming that India’s own non-state actors are involved in terrorist activities, Malik said, “I am not blaming India, I am clearing the situation.” He added that there was some technical fault in the Indian system.

India has alleged that Pakistan has been involved in terrorist activities several times which later proved to be wrong and affected bilateral ties, said Malik, adding that India should confirm first before blaming Pakistan.

An alleged key plotter in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Sayeed Zabiuddin Ansari, was arrested by the Indian police earlier this week. India’s home minister said the suspect had provided information confirming Pakistani “state support” for the deadly assault.

Malik said that the information provided by India about Ansari is incomplete, and added that India should also explain why he has been released.

Sarabjeet or Sarjeet?

Malik clarified that the Interior ministry had not sent any summary to President Asif Ali Zardari for the release of Indian prisoner Sarabjeet Singh, as reported earlier by the media. He added that Sarabjeet Singh and Sarjeet Singh are two different Indian prisoners.

He added that Sarjeet’s death sentence was converted into life imprisonment by then president Ghulam Ishaque Khan. Sarjeet has completed his term and will be released in the next 48 hours, Malik said.

He further dispelled rumours about the army’s alleged role behind not releasing Sarabjeet and said that the army should not be dragged into everything.

He also advised the media to confirm news before publishing them and to base their reports on facts.

Source: The Express Tribune