ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The US president George Bush and President Gen Pervez Musharraf, on Friday resolved to continue the campaign against terrorism to make the world safe and peaceful for all humanity.
President Musharraf called the US president on telephone and conveyed him the heart-felt sympathies of the people of Pakistan on the death of the kidnapped reporter of Wall Street Journal, Daniel Pearl.
Speaking at a news conference here on Friday, the interior minister, Lt Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider, said the two presidents agreed that the perpetrators of this barbaric act could not be friends of Islam or Pakistan.
The minister said President Bush referred to the joint efforts made by the security agencies of both the countries but regretted that all the hard work and effort could not save the life of Daniel Pearl.
Expressing shock on the brutal death of the US journalist, the minister said the federal law minister, Barrister Shahida Jamil, visited the wife of Daniel Pearl and offered condolences on behalf of the government.
Terming the incident a professionally executed act of terror, Mr Haider emphasized that a stronger action is required against criminals and terrorists for which Pakistan needed the support of the world community to fight terrorism in all its forms. “The government and the people of Pakistan are determined to take strongest possible actions against the terrorists and bring them to strict justice.”
Replying to a question about the impact of the incident on the Pakistan-US relationship, Mr Haider said the act of terrorism was certainly no help to Pakistan, it was meant to tarnish the image of Pakistan and what the efforts made to control the menace of terrorism in this region.
Briefing newsmen about progress in the investigations, the minister said the prime accused of the case is under arrest and his three accomplices are under interrogation.
Mr Haider said that now only four more, who abducted and kept Daniel Pearl in an underground cell were required. “We know their names, we know their identity, we have also got hold of their close relatives and we are interrogating them. Once that is done, the whole net will be broken.”
About Indian involvement in the incident of kidnapping and brutal murder, the minister said it was premature to say anything in this regard unless the other four terrorists were apprehended and all the information collected. “I will not be able to say much on this subject but the prime suspect has been in the Indian jails for five years, he was with them and was released as a result of hijacking of an Indian Airliner.”
In reply to a question about the confirmation of death, the minister said the Sindh government issued a press release after the video was found to be genuine by the joint US and Pakistani team of investigators.
“It was seen by the investigators form the USA and Pakistan and after viewing the tape it was unanimous opinion that this tape is possibly genuine one and that Daniel is dead.”
The minister said initially a Karachi based Pakistani reporter of a newspaper of New York was given the tape which was subsequently made available to the US Counsel General and the US investigators.
He did not reveal the name of the reporter despite repeated questions saying, “We are in touch with the reporter to find out who were the people who handed him the tape but at this stage revealing the name of the reporter or his newspaper could effect the investigations.”
The minister said the reporter has given the description of three persons, their ages, their faces. The government is trying to establish if these were the same persons investigators are looking for or different.
In response to a question about safety of foreigners in Pakistan, the minister said the foreigners were by and large safe in Pakistan.
The minister said there were thousands of journalists and foreigners in the country after September 11 but except for the one isolated incident Pakistan was by and large a safe country.
The minister, emphasising the need for a stronger and coordinated action against terrorists groups, said, “Our journey is not a short one to control the terrorists.”
