Perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks roam freely in Pakistan, says Javed Akhtar

The perpetrators of the 2611 Mumbai attacks are still roaming freely in Pakistan and Pakistanis should not feel offended when India talks about the 2008 carnage lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar has saidIn a viral video from the seventh Faiz Festival organised here in memory of celebrated Urdu poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz the writer was seen making these comments in response to a member in the audience who told Akhtar to take with him a message of peace and tell Indians that Pakistan is a positive friendly and loving countryWe should not blame each other It will solve nothing The atmosphere is tense that should be doused the 78yearold lyricist said We are people from Mumbai we have seen the attack on our city They attackers did not come from Norway or Egypt They are still roaming freely in your country So if there is a grievance in the heart of a Hindustani you should not feel offended Akhtar said at the event that was hosted by Adil Hashmi the grandson of poet FaizAkhtar also told the gathering that even though Pakistani artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hasan have been warmly welcomed in India Pakistan has never held a single show of Lata Mangeshkar We hosted big functions of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Mehdi Hasan You Pakistan never organised a function for Lata Mangeshkar the poet said drawing loud cheers and applause from the audienceOn November 26 2008 10 Pakistani terrorists belonging to Hafiz Saeedled LashkareTaiba arrived via sea and opened fire killing 166 people including 18 security personnel and injuring several others during a 60hour siege in MumbaiAlso read Javed Akhtar lsquoIrsquod sleep under the porch of Khar railway stationrsquoThe attacks drew widespread global condemnation Nine Pakistani terrorists were killed by the Indian security forces Ajmal Kasab was the only terrorist who was captured alive He was hanged four years later on November 21 2012 India has been accusing Pakistan of letting the key conspirators and planners of the 2611 attacks remain protected and unpunished thereMeanwhile Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut praised Akhtar for his candid remarks about the 2611 terror attacks tweeting Ghar mein ghuss ke maara He hit them in their own landAt the Lahore event Akhtar spoke at length about language poetry performing arts love and friendship and also about his marriage with actor Shabana Azmi He left Pakistan on Monday after the conclusion of the threeday festival which attracted a large audience from all walks of live at Lahores Alhamra Arts Council When asked about his marriage with Azmi and love for her he said I share such a strong bond of friendship with Shabana that even marriage couldnt break itHe said Urdus original name was Hindvi and when everything was divided during the Partition Urdu being a language could not be divided so it was pushed to PakistanRegarding lack of depth of performing arts and arts the lyricist said speed of communication has come at the cost of depthThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever