(Image source from: Masood Azhar is in its custody)
Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's adviser Sartaj Aziz has confirmed that Masood Azhar, the chief of JeM which carried out the Pathankot attack, is in its "protective custody". Mr Aziz said that a Special Investigation Team from Pakistan may visit Pathankot in the next few days to probe the attack and that his country is pursuing the investigation seriously.
He said that one of the mobile phone numbers linked to the attackers was traced to the terror group's headquarters in Pakistan's Bahawalpur and prompted the lodging of the FIR in connection with the Pathankot assault as a "logical and positive step" in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Mr Aziz said that Masood Azhar, along with a few other operatives of the JeM, has been kept under protective custody and that some of the terror outfit's premises have also been sealed. He said action will follow against Masood Azhar and others the moment evidence becomes available.
Aziz said that the FIR filed four days back in the Pathankot attack case has created legal basis for a Special Investigation Team of Pakistan to visit India to collect evidence.
He said India has agreed to the SIT visit. The FIR was filed against "unknown persons" after weeks of probe into the terror assault that had led to the postponement of Foreign Secretary-level talks. It was registered at Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) centre in Gujranwala, Punjab province.
Regarding, Pakistani-American LeT operative David Headley's revelations about the Mumbai attack during his deposition through video conference to an Indian court, Aziz said he was "a double agent who cannot be trustworthy".
This is for the first time a top functionary of the Pakistan government has confirmed that Masood Azhar is in custody.
By Premji
