- Says Pakistan will share Tashfeen Malik’s information according to int’l laws
- Act of individual does not represent a country or religion
Referring to the recent shooting in California, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday said that the act of an individual does not represent a country or religion, adding that every Pakistani who has a heart and has some understanding will condemn this incident.
Nisar strongly condemning the California shooting incident in US has said that Pakistan will extend all possible legal assistance for investigation about the girl involved in the incident.
“It is sad that a Pakistani woman’s name is attributed to this tragedy,” he said. He said that Interior Ministry had started the investigations as soon as the name came forward. Nisar said that all media reports about Tashfeen Malik were correct.
“Tashfeen Malik belonged to Dera Ghazi Khan from where the family shifted to Saudi Arabia some 20 to 25 years ago. However, Malik kept visiting Pakistan and completed her education here. Later, she got married in Saudi Arabia and went to the United States from there,” he said.
Nisar termed the shooting as an attempt to malign Islam and Muslims, and said that ‘such incidents are making life difficult for Pakistan and Muslim Diaspora’.
“The wrongdoing of an individual Muslim or Pakistani does not mean the entire country or religion is at fault,” he said.
“The Western world in particular and the world in general are getting the impression that whatever these extremists are doing is actually Islam,” remarked the minister.
He said Islam’s teachings start with peace and end with peace. “Whatever these terrorists are doing has nothing to do with Islam or Muslims.”
He also lauded the US government’s approach regarding the case adding that extremists, far right elements in US administration and public are criticising the US government for not blaming Muslims and Pakistanis for terrorism but the government has so far refused to take such a stance.
He criticised the media for reporting that a US delegation had met with the prime minister to discuss the California shooting, adding that the report was false and no such meeting took place.
“There are certain objectives behind such reports. Intelligence information is shared through Ministry of Interior and Exterior. Information about Malik will be shared in accordance with international laws,” he said.
Nisar, however, claimed that Pakistan has assured US authorities of full cooperation during their probe into the matter.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office, in a statement issued on Sunday, vehemently condemned the tragic shooting incident in the US state of California.
The FO spokesman said we offer condolences to the families and friends of the victims in this act of terrorism.
Qazi Khalilullah said the people of Pakistan, being worst victims of terrorism over the years, share the grief of the people of the United States and stand by them in their pain and sufferings.
FIR AGAINST ALTAF NOT FROM GOVT
About the FIR registration of the case of Dr. Imran Farooq, Interior Minister said that it was a purely judicial process and the judiciary will decide the case.
Nisar denied any direct or indirect link of the government with registration of Dr Imran Farooq’s murder case against Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain in Pakistan and clarified that the case was registered on the basis of a report prepared by the joint investigation team (JIT), formed to probe the murder of MQM’s senior leader in London in 2010.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Chaudhry Nisar said that the federal government had only approved the registration of the case in the country, adding that timing for lodging the FIR was also determined by the JIT. He said even Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was not aware of the progress of the murder case. “In any case, state is the party and not the government,” he remarked.
Terming the murder case as one of its kind, the minister said that the suspects are in Pakistan, the bank transactions took place here, but the incident happened in London. British institutions have been taken into confidence in the regard, he added.
Nisar said that cooperation with Scotland Yard would continue in the case, on which he added a new JIT would soon be formed.
“The investigation will proceed according to findings of the new JIT. Scotland Yard will be contacted if a need arises to seek any information.”
