Noting that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative Zarar Shah's confession of involvement in the Mumbai attacks "have not been denied at the highest levels in Islamabad", a leading Pakistani daily said the government should come clean on the matter or it will "continue to be deemed guilty until proven innocent".

In a strongly worded editorial, headlined "Taking stock", the influential Dawn newspaper said Saturday unless Islamabad comes clean on the reported confession of Shah and the outcome of its probe into 26/11, Pakistan "will not be in a position to counter criticism that facts are being withheld and we will continue to be deemed guilty (of involvement in the Mumbai mayhem) until proven innocent".