No evidence against Saeed, can't put him in jail: Pak envoy

Says Pak was not aware of the meeting between Vaidik and Saeed

Amid row over Ved Pratap Vaidik's meeting with Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Pakistan today said it was not aware about the meeting and asserted that no action can be taken against the JuD Chief as there was no evidence against him.

Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, replying to a volley of questions on the issue during a Meet the Press programme at Press Club of India here, said it was a meeting between two private persons.

"Our government was not aware of this meeting and nor was the Government of India. It was a meeting between two private individuals and nothing more," Basit said.

Asked whether Pakistani intelligence agency ISI was also not aware about the meeting, he only said Pakistani Government has nothing to do with it.

On why no action was taken against the JuD chief for his alleged involvement in terror activities, the Pakistani High Commissioner said there was "no evidence" to prosecute Saeed.

He said Pakistan government needs "hard evidence" to put Saeed in jail. "We do not have any evidence against him...We cannot put him in jail just to please anyone."

On whether Pakistan will again give visa to Vaidik if he applies for it, Basit evaded a direct reply and said he often visits the country and was given the travel document along with other members of a delegation which participated in a conference there.

The meeting of Vaidik, known to be close to BJP supporter and yoga guru Ramdev, had triggered a row, with Opposition taking on the government following which a report was sought from the Indian High Commission in Pakistan.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday said the High Commission was not aware of the meeting.