The Hindu : 'Pak. has no right to comment on POTA'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 29, 2002

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'Pak. has no right to comment on POTA'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 28 . India today strongly criticised Pakistan's comments on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) saying that Islamabad has no locus standi to make these observations as it was being governed by a military regime.

``It is very strange that the spokesman of a military regime which has overthrown a democratically elected government.....is making comments on a law passed by an elected Parliament in India,'' the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said. Significantly, while taking exception to these comments, the spokesperson, Nirupama Rao, pointed out that Pakistan was making plans to resurrect a ``sham democracy'' in the future.

Analysts here point out that by criticising Pakistan's stated effort for a political transition which could start taking shape around October this year, India was signaling that an early thaw in the strained relationship between New Delhi and Islamabad may be unlikely.

India, she asserted, was not soliciting any comments, especially from Pakistan, on its internal affairs. Questioning the intent behind the Pakistani assertion, she said ``Is Pakistan concerned that there would now be even more effective action against terrorism and the terrorist groups it has sponsored in India.''

Asked to comment on Pakistan's decision to shift the Chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Maulana Massood Azhar, from prison to his residence, she said this action raised ``suspicion and doubt about Pakistan's attitude and its action on terrorist and terrorist groups that operate on its soil.''

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