Pak officials endorse Kasab hanging

Pakistan has formally endorsed the hanging of Ajmal Kasab saying that a terrorist has met his logical end. Interior minister Rehman Malik told media persons on Wednesday that Pakistan stance on terrorism “was very clear” and that it stood against terrorism in any country. Imtiaz Ahmad reports. Effect on Indo-Pak relations

Pakistan has formally endorsed the hanging of Ajmal Kasab saying that a terrorist has met his logical end. Interior minister Rehman Malik told media persons on Wednesday that Pakistan stance on terrorism “was very clear” and that it stood against terrorism in any country.

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The Pakistani interior minister said that no request has been received from family members for the body of Ajmal Kasab. “We can only ask the Indian authorities for the body if we have a request for this from the family members of Ajmal Kasab. We have not received any such request.”

Malik said that the Indian Deputy High Commissioner had informed the Pakistan foreign office about the death of Kasab and this was conveyed to the family of Kasab by the Pakistan government but no request for the body was made. “If the request is made, we will ask the Indian government," said Malik.

Pakistani media, however, downplayed news of Kasab’s hanging, though they led with it in the morning. “This was a foregone conclusion and that is why the news did not come as a surprise,” said journalist Imtiaz Ali.

Former human rights minister Ansar Burney lamented the fact that Kasab was hanged and said that capital punishment should be done away with.

Foreign policy analyst Zafar Hilaly said the hanging of Kasab spoke volumes of India’s determination to bring those guilty in the Mumbai attacks to justice. Hilaly said that there was a lesson for Pakistan in how India had followed up in the case. “In Pakistan, most of those accused of terrorist activities are let off for want of evidence. It is lamentable.”

In his comments, analyst Khalid Ahmed said that Kasab was only a pawn in a larger game. “Those who sent Kasab to India need to be punished as well.”