Lahore: Hours after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh held talks in New Delhi on Sunday, Pakistan's Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani acknowledged that the case of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief
Hafiz Saeed was an "issue" between his country and India and once again said
that Islamabad needed "substantial" evidence against the founder of the
Lashkar-e-Taiba to try him in a court of law."We are serious on the issue of Saeed but the question is how to proceed against him without evidence. Courts here are independent and we need substantial evidence against him," Mr Gilani said, while interacting with a group of reporters at his residence Lahore on Sunday evening.
Dr Singh raised the issue of Hafiz Saeed with President Zardari when he hosted the latter for lunch on Sunday at his 7 Race Course Road residence. India has repeatedly sought action against Saeed, seen as the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack of 2008, and says it has handed over enough evidence to prosecute him. Pakistan has, each time, said it needs more proof against Saeed, who is a free man in Pakistan and regularly holds anti-India rallies.
The Pakistan Prime Minister said yesterday that it had been agreed that the Home Secretaries of the two countries would discuss the issue when they met on April 16. He said that former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif too had asked him about his government's stance on Saeed.
Saeed came under global focus last week when the US offered a $10 million bounty for information that could help in his arrest.
Mr Gilani has said in Parliament that the case of Saeed is an "internal issue" of Pakistan and any evidence against him should be provided to Islamabad so that it can be examined by the courts.
Responding to a question about groups like Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) fanning extremism in Pakistan, Mr Gilani said: "I have ordered action against all proscribed organisations". The Jamaat, ostensibly a socio-religious organisation, is widely believed to be a front for the deadly Lashkar and is a banned organisation.
Mr Gilani also said, "(Indian Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh and I are committed to bringing stability to the region. We will take every possible step towards peace and stability," he said hours after President Asif Ali Zardari met Dr Singh in New Delhi.
Asked about trade with India, Mr Gilani said: "Trade relations are beneficial for each other. Even China had asked us to have trade with India as it is good for both countries."
He said the Pakistan People's Party-led government had the mandate of the opposition and the people to forge good relations with India. "The army should be with us on this matter," he added.
Mr Gilani said that President Zardari's daylong private tour of India would help improve relations between the two countries.
Responding to another question, Mr Gilani said: "All issues, including Kashmir, can be resolved through dialogue."
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