Pakistan might seek custody of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured during the Mumbai attacks, to strengthen its efforts to prosecute other suspects detained for links to the strikes, Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said today.
"If investigators recommend it and the court asks for him, then definitely we will do that," Malik told reporters here when asked if Pakistan would seek access to Kasab.
"It's premature (to speculate) but when the name of a person appears in a FIR, he is needed in the case... We will do it when our investigators think he is needed here,"he said.
On Thursday, Pakistan listed Kasab among nine accused in a FIR filed in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks. It also acknowledged for the first time that part of the conspiracy behind the attacks was hatched within the country.
Kasab was captured alive and nine other terrorists were killed by the NSG commandos. The Mumbai terror attacks claimed 183 lives. After weeks of denial, Islamabad acknowledged Kasab as a Pakistani national in January.
Malik also asked Indian authorities to respond to 30 questions submitted by Pakistan, saying the information which has been sought will help strengthen the prosecution of the accused.
Pakistani authorities have six of the nine accused named in the FIR, including Lashker-e-Taiba operatives Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Zarar Shah and Hamad Amin Sadiq, in custody.
