Malik `mishandled` Ajmal case, must resign immediately: Burney

H S Rao
London, Jan 8 (PTI) Observing that the "mishandling" of
the issue of Ajmal Iman's nationality by the government had
brought bad name to Pakistan, leading human rights activist
Ansar Burney has demanded the immediate resignation of
Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik.

While from the very first day it was clear that the lone
gunman captured for the Mumbai attacks, hailed from Pakistan,
the non-acceptance of his nationality by Interior Ministry has
created doubts regarding the direct involvement of Pakistan in
the incident, Pakistan's former Federal Minister for Human
Rights Ansar Burney said in a statement here Wednesday night.

He said the team of Ansar Burney Trust that recently
visited Ajmal's village confirmed that he is a Pakistani
national and now his parents are missing from the village.

The activist said the matter was totally mishandled by
the Adviser to the Prime Minister for Interior, for unknown
motives that would now create much more problems for Pakistan.

After being in constant denial mode, Pakistan Wednesday
admitted that 'Kasab' was the country's national, vindicating
India's stand.

"I do not know why he (Malik) didn't resign immediately
after the attack on Marriott Hotel in Islamabad," Burney said
demanding that he should step down without further delay.

A suicide bomber targetted Islamabad's Mariott Hotel on
Sept 20 last year, killing at least 60 people.

Burney alleged that the statements that came out so far
from the Adviser on Interior were most of the time false and
fabricated.
"Even his recent statement on GEO TV on the cause of the
death of Mahtarma Benazir Bhutto, was very much suspicious and
full of doubts," he said.

Burney, an expert adviser and member in the UN Human
Rights Council Advisory Committee at Geneva said the denial by
Pakistan government, particularly after the interview of
Ajmal's father appeared in the Dawn newspaper and Geo TV
created doubts internationally against the country's
government and about its' involvement in the heinous crime.

He said the involvement of any Pakistani in any crime or
terrorism in the country or abroad does not mean that the
entire nation at large is involved. However, the role of
Interior Ministry will give a bad name to the entire nation.

He said the dirty role of the government proves that some
of the Pakistani officials or parties working under their
patronage are definitely involved in such the heinous crime in
Mumbai.

"Mishandling of the case by the Ministry of Interior
doesn't mean that Pakistan or the entire nation is corrupt or
terrorist," he said. "Such elements are everywhere even in
India - those involved in heinous crime against humanity."

Burney urged the Indian Government to allow him to meet
Ajmal Kasab to bring out the truth "as his arrest is also
suspicious in so many manners." PTI