26 May,2010 11:34 AM IST | | Agencies
The banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) has hailed Pakistan Supreme Court's verdict declaring its chief Hafiz Muhammed Saeed a 'free man', saying the 'truth has prevailed'.
"Finally, truth has prevailed. The world should realise now that Jamaat-ud-Dawa is a non-terrorist organisation," The Daily Times quoted JuD spokesperson Yahya Mujahid, as saying.
"With the grace of God, the court ruling in our favour has sent a clear message that JuD and its chief have nothing to do with terrorism," he added.
The Pakistan government had challenged Saeed's release by a high court last year. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court quashed the appeal, saying the government had failed to provide sufficient evidence against Saeed, the Mumbai terror attack mastermind.
The apex court's decision came just a day after Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said that there was a 'trust deficit' between India and Pakistan, which needed to be bridged if the heightened tension between both countries is to be toned down.
India has provided several dossiers to Pakistan alluding Saeed's role in the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, but there has been little action against the brain behind the 26/11 massacre.
Under immense international pressure Islamabad was forced to put Saeed under house arrest, however he walked free soon after as government agencies failed to table enough evidence against him in the court of law.
Earlier, India had expressed its disappointment over Saeed's acquittal.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said India is disappointed by the Pakistan Supreme Court's decision to free Saeed and hopes that Islamabad would pursue the case in a more meaningful way.
"India hopes Pakistan will take meaningful action against Saeed.u00a0 We are disappointed over at Saeed being let off by Pakistan," Rao said.
"We hope Pakistan will not let Saeed walk free. India has given enough proof to Pakistan on Saeed," she added.
