The Ministry of Interior on Wednesday stated that Pakistan does not need India's approval over the recent action the government took regarding Hafiz Saeed, chief of proscribed organisation Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Radio Pakistan reported.
India's Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement on Tuesday, saying Pakistan had carried out such actions "in the past also" and only a "credible crackdown against the mastermind of Mumbai terrorist attack... would be proof of Pakistan's sincerity."
Rebuffing India's reaction, the interior ministry issued a statement saying "as a matter of record, the Pakistan government took these actions as per its obligations vis-à-vis listing of JuD under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267."
The ministry's spokesperson said various actions should have been taken under the relevant resolution, such as implementing an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze by previous governments.
"For some reason the past leadership did not act," he added.
Read more: House arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed a policy decision: DG ISPR
The ministry further stated that India has constantly been using Hafiz Saeed's political activities as a tool to malign Pakistan.
"The international community should take note and understand that Pakistan is a democratic society, where judiciary takes free, independent and transparent decisions. If indeed India is serious about its allegations, it should come up with concrete evidence against Hafiz Mohammad Saeed," read the statement.
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The evidence should be such that it is "sustainable in the court of law in Pakistan or for that matter, anywhere in the world", the spokesman added.
"Mere casting aspirations and levelling allegations without any corroboratory evidence will not help [preserve] peace in the region," interior ministry said.
The ministry further stated that Pakistan is still waiting for a justification and explanation from India about its claim that all those involved in the 2008 Samjhota Express bombing, where 68 people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed, have got off scot-free.
Hafiz Saeed's name put on ECL
The government has barred more than 30 affiliates of JuD, including its chief Hafiz Saeed, from leaving the country.
The interior ministry placed names of 38 people associated with JUD on Exit Control List (ECL).
According to the list, a copy of which is available with DawnNews, people from all the four provinces and Gilgit Baltistan were placed on ECL.
