Masood Azhar in Pak ‘protective custody’

New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, Pakistan's Punjab province Law Minister claimed that Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) supremo Maulana Masood Azhar was under "protective custody".

Pakistani daily Dawn, quoting the Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, reported the news.

Speaking on DawnNews talk show 'News Eye', Sanaullah, while responding to a question, confirmed that Masood Azhar was taken into protective custody by the counter-terrorism department of Pakistan.

Asked if his custody can be termed an 'arrest', the provincial law minister explained on Thursday that Azhar will only face arrest and legal action if his involvement in the Pathankot attack is proved beyond doubt.

India alleged that the six terrorists who attacked the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Pathankot in Punjab on January 2, killing seven security personnel, were Pakistanis and linked with the JeM.

Earlier, the Pakistan government opted for not confirming or denying the reports on the "protective custody" of Maulana Masood Azhar.

Pakistan very well understands the harmful impact on the country if there is any clampdown on the terror outfit.

It was obvious that issues like terrorism have always caught Islamabad on the back foot.

While some international quarters claimed that the US had pressurized Pakistan for arresting Azhar, it is yet to be seen whether Pakistan takes any credible and sincere action against the Pathankot attack mastermind. (Inputs from IANS)