Nawaz Sharif defends his remarks about Pakistan's role in Mumbai terror attacks

Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PML (N) founder Nawaz Sharif on Monday defended his statement in which he had admitted that militants thriving in the country were responsible for killing over 160 people in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Photo: PTI

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PML (N) founder Nawaz Sharif on Monday defended his statement in which he had admitted that militants thriving in the country were responsible for killing over 160 people in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. "What did I say that was wrong in the interview?" 68-year-old Sharif asked while talking to reporters outside an accountability court in Islamabad, where he is facing corruption charges. Nawaz regretted that those who ask questions are being termed traitors in the media. "Despite our 50,000 sacrifices [of lives], why is the world not paying heed to our narrative? And the person who is asking this question has been labelled a traitor," PTI quoted Sharif as saying. He also called out those local media outlets that had criticised his words. "I am being called a traitor on the media they [the media] are being made to call me a traitor." "Are those who tore apart the country and the Constitution patriots? Are those who pulled out judges from their offices patriots?" "Will speak the truth no matter what the consequences are," he said. Sharif in an interview to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper had said on Saturday that militants from Pakistan did sneak into India to attack Mumbai in 2008 and massacre 166 people in November 2008. "Militant organisations are active. Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?”, he had said in a reference to the Mumbai attacks-related trials which have stalled in a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court. India has accused Lashkar founder and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed of masterminding the Mumbai attacks. The United States has offered a $10 million reward for information of Saeed who has forayed into national politics. Meanwhile, the political future of Sharif, who leads the country's most powerful political family has been hanging precariously since his ouster as prime minister. If convicted, he can be jailed.