ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Foreign Office on Thursday has clearly stated that Pakistani authorities can not act against Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed as they lack the evidence required to do so.

Speaking to media representatives during their weekly briefing in Islamabad, foreign office spokesperson Abdul Basit said that the US had been informed of Pakistan’s stance on the issue.

Basit said Pakistan had adopted “a legal and principled position on the issue that it can not proceed against them (Hafiz Saeed and brother-in-law Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki) without any concrete evidence.”

The foreign office spokesperson also said that Pakistan was not under any pressure to act against Saeed.

“Pakistan will not accept any US pressure on the issue. Pakistan and the US are democratic countries and such issues should be advanced through a legal procedure,” said Basit.

Moreover, Basit also rejected the notion that Pakistan was facing US pressure on the restoration of Nato’s supply line.

“We will proceed further on all matters in accordance with parliamentary final guidelines. Doors of discussion with the US are open to sort out differences on all issues including drone strikes.”

The Salala check post attack has “set back our bilateral relations with the US. We want to put it back to the level where it has been earlier. However, Pakistan has maintained its position that action should be taken against those involved in Salala check post attack.”