US should pressurise Pak to collect evidence against Hafiz Saeed: Ujjwal Nikam

Putting onus on the US authorities for initiating action against Hafiz Saeed, Special Public Prosecutor for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case Ujjwal Nikam on Thursday said that the authorities in Washington should put pressure on Pakistan to collect evidences against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief.

Nikam stressed on the two most important proofs - the confessions of Mumbai attacks perpetrator Ajmal Kasab and 26/11 attacks accused David Headley - against Saeed.

"There are two pieces of evidence. The first is Ajmal Kasab's confession. Pakistan authorities can take his confession via video link. Secondly, David Headley, one of the members of the LeT, of which Hafiz Saeed is the founder," Nikam told ANI.

"Pakistan can take the evidence, but it won't. It is high time American authorities put pressure upon Pakistani authorities to take these two evidences," he added.

Hinting at Pakistan's hidden intention to defend Hafiz Saeed, Nikam pointed out that putting the former's name in the Exit Control List itself indicates that the authorities have some prima facie evidence against him.

"The very fact that Pakistani authorities have put the name of Hafiz Saeed in Exit Control List, it means that he cannot leave Pakistan without prior permission of the government. That clearly shows that Pakistani authorities have some prima facie evidence, and therefore, they have put his name in the Exit Control List," he said.

Nikam's reaction came as Pakistan snubbed India's demand of a credible crackdown on Saeed recently placed in house arrest.

Pakistan has said that it does not need any endorsement from New Delhi over actions against the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind.