Imran Khan justifies dealings with Hafiz Saeed in interview

Lahore, Oct 28: Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician

defended his contact with banned outfit Jamat-ud-Dawa, a front for notorious terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and its leader

, allegedly the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people, including foreign nationals.

Speaking to the NDTV in an exclusive interview, Khan defended his talks with Saeed, saying political parties don't follow a policy of boycotting people and politicians can strike a deal with whoever they think is politically convenient.

"If I, as a politician, share stage with a violent organisation, what's wrong with that?," Khan asked back during the interview.

Khan, chief of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf said Saeed's alleged involvement with the attacks in India is something that should be determined in the courts.

Political parties don't pursue a policy of boycotting people, said Imran Khan

Last week, New Delhi slammed Islamabad after the latter claimed that the evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the 2008 attacks was not handed over to it. It said 99 per cent of the evidence is already with the Pakistani authorities. The Pakistani claim came soon after reports said that the 26/11 attack case was discussed between US President Barack Obama and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during Sharif's visit to Washington last week.

The Pakistani prime minister reportedly faced tough questions over Pakistan's handling of the trial of the 26/11 accused.

OneIndia News