Pakistan on Saturday said that the evidence about Mumbai terror attacks -- given to it by India -- contained 'leads and good clues' and promised to file criminal cases if prima facie evidence is found.
'Quite a lot of material' was provided by India and the Pakistani investigators will work to convert this into 'evidence that can stand up to judicial scrutiny', Pakistan's Interior Ministry chief Rahman Malik told a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday.
He said the three-member counter-terror team, investigating the Mumbai attack and examining the Indian dossier, has been directed to submit its preliminary findings within 10 days.
No case regarding the Mumbai attacks has been registered so far in Pakistan. "If prima facie evidence is available on record, we will then convert it into a criminal case," Malik said, adding that the time needed for any prosecution would depend on the judiciary.
Pakistan was not acting under pressure from India and will not accept 'dictation' from anyone regarding the probe, he said.
Asked about British Foreign Secretary David Miliband's comments on Friday that Pakistan needs to go 'farther and faster' in prosecuting those involved in the Mumbai attacks, Malik said, "We will not accept anyone's instructions to do things faster."
Malik outlined the terms of reference and guidelines for the investigating team, which was directed to conduct 'a transparent and legally tenable inquiry'.
The team will 'establish legally verifiable credentials of suspects allegedly involved in the terrorist attack. It would inquire into the available information supplied by India with the view to transforming it into evidence for further legal action'.
It will also collect 'all other related evidence for legal action according to the law of Pakistan'.
Malik said all further action would be taken according to Pakistani laws, virtually ruling out the handing over of any suspects linked to the Mumbai attacks to India.
He reiterated Pakistan's demand for a joint probe into the incident, saying: "Our investigators must interact. If you want good and quick results, please allow your investigators to interact with us."
He said the best course of action would be for investigators from both sides to interact and share information because terrorists are the common enemies of India and Pakistan.
Malik also assured the world community and Indian authorities that Pakistan is "very serious in its commitments" to bring the perpetrators of the attacks to justice. "We are with India. We are doing everything possible to bring the suspects, militants and terrorists to justice," he said.
Noting that it had taken India 42 days to share information on the Mumbai attacks, Malik said New Delhi should be patient and give Islamabad more time to complete its investigations.
