Pak to ask for consular access to Kasav?

Islamabad, Dec 29: Sources say that Pakistan is planning to ask for consular access to Azam Amir Kasav aka Ajmal Amir Iman, the only terrorist caught alive in the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes. A Pak official on Sunday, Dec 28 said that the ruling PPP government has decided to 'play down' the 'war rhetoric'.

Speaking to the sources on a condition of anonymity the official said that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had received a letter for Kasav asking for legal aid. He said, "Yes, we will provide him legal aid if he's a Pakistani and we are allowed consular access to him."

He further said that Pakistan would ask for Consular access to Kasav to find out whether he is a Pakistani national as his name is not in the NADRA list (National Database and Registration Authority).

It is the NADRA which issues national identity cards and prepare passports for Pakistani nationals and Pakistanis who live abroad with dual nationality.

Meanwhile another official admitted that Pak did get information related to Kasav from India through United States. Sources say that US and Britain have reportedly shared evidence of Pak involvement in Nov 26 Mumbai terror attacks, like confession by Kasav and his chat with people in Pakistan. But the official claims that these are not sufficient 'evidences'. The official said the people named by India in connection with the terrorist attack were either in government custody or were not living in Pakistan.

Ruling PPP has however decided to play down the issue and in its central executive meeting, the party decided that only key government officials will comment in public over the issue.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)