Pakistan files Pathankot attack FIR, but drops Azhar's name

Pakistan on Friday morning lodged an FIR in Gujranwala against unknown terrorists in the Pathankot attack case. However, while lodging the FIR, the Pakistan security forces have left out the key terrorist, Masood Azhar's name. The FIR follows the Special Investigation Team's recommendations. The SIT had recommended that the FIR be lodged against Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar and others, but, at the last minute, at the instance of Pakistan's Deputy Home Secretary Aitzaz-ud-Din, Azhar's name was dropped. The FIR comes nearly one-and-half months after the audacious terror attack on the Pathankot air base on January 2. Pakistani `The News,' reported that the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the West Punjab Police had lodged the Pathankot attack FIR in Gujranwala. The case has been lodged against unknown terrorists, while India had given specific names based on the voice of communication between the terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan. The Gujranwala case has been registered after the SIT "formally recommended to the federal government to lodge an FIR on the basis of the information provided to the National Security Adviser Lt-Gen (retired) Nasser Khan Janjua by his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval." The newspaper said Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif "may order lodging of a case either in the FIA or in Lahore's Counter Terrorism Department against Masood Azhar, four attackers and some unknown accomplices in the days to come." Under intense pressure from India and the international community, Sharif had directed the concerned Pakistani authorities to probe and punish the Pathankot perpetrators. Pakistan's Interior Ministry had constituted a six-member team on January 13 to investigate the terror attack in which 6 attackers and 7 Indian securitymen were killed. `The News' further claimed that Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, who was taken into `informal protective custody' is yet to be interrogated by SIT. Sources said that his interrogation would take place after the FIR is registered. This is the last straw on the camel's back. If Pakistan does not grill and do justice in this case of international terrorism, the visits of the US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud bin Faisal Al Saud would not follow the next time. Even if there was a repeat of their visits the next time round, or even before, the world has already come round to the view that Pakistan is a pariah state. Pakistan would be deemed to be a terrorist state and it would have to face the consequences despite its little toys called Islamic bombs. There are too many Islamic bombs, including the dirty bomb with the ISIS, around for the world to fear for them.