The Pakistan government said yesterday its investigations into the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team was still continuing even though it was one week after the incident and that nothing had been “ruled in or ruled out.”

Pakistan Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told Daily Mirror over the telephone from Islamabad that his government was sharing with Sri Lanka the information it had gathered during the ongoing investigations.

“This is a very sensitive subject to talk about and we do not want to divulge any information to the media because it may hamper our investigations,” Mr. Basit said.

When asked about possible LTTE or Indian involvement

 in the attack, Mr. Basit said all angles were being investigated and the government was awaiting concrete evidence before divulging the details.

“We are not ruling in or ruling out anything. As soon as we get something concrete we will first inform the Sri Lankan government,” he said.

The Pakistan government said it was grateful to the Sri Lankan government for its   understanding at such a difficult time and was continuing to be in touch with the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry.

Mr. Basit said detailed discussions were held with Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama when he visited Pakistan soon after the attack and the Pakistan government apologized to the Sri Lankan government for what happened.

“Pakistan held detailed discussions with the Sri Lankan government the attack targeting the Sri Lankan cricketers. As a friend of Pakistan, Sri Lanka has understood our position and we truly appreciate that. The two governments are working closely together to apprehend the terrorists,” Mr. Basit said.

Pakistani authorities on Saturday ordered a judicial inquiry into the terrorist attack though there was no official word on when a special police team investigating the incident would submit its preliminary report.

The government of Punjab province appointed Justice Shabbar Raza Rizvi of the Lahore High Court as a one-man tribunal to hold the judicial inquiry into the attack, an official statement said but did not give further details on the inquiry.

Eight people, including six policemen, were killed and more than 20 including seven Sri Lankan players and the cricket coach injured when a dozen heavily armed terrorists attacked the cricket team's convoy at the Liberty traffic roundabout in the heart of Lahore on March 3.

The special investigation team probing the attack was expected to submit its preliminary report within two days of the incident.

Pakistani investigators detained nearly 100 suspects for questioning. Two suspects were arrested on Friday after a gun battle with security personnel at a market in Lahore's cantonment area.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama, at a media briefing held yesterday said Pakistan was continuing close dialogue with the Sri Lankan government and updating it on the process of the investigations into the Lahore attack.

Minister Bogollagama said while investigations were proceeding well by the Pakistani Police, they hoped to apprehend the culprits soon. “The recent Lahore attack was an incident when two nations were targeted by terrorism in one location. It is also the first time the Sri Lankan cricket team was a target by deadly terrorists,” Minister Bogollagama said.

He added that during his visit to Lahore, the Pakistani Leadership had also expressed his deep concern over the attack and expressed more concern as to why the Sri Lankan cricket team had been a target.

Meanwhile Minister Bogollagama said the Sri Lankan government had not ruled out a possible LTTE link to the attack. “We have not ruled out the fact that the LTTE may have been involved with other international terrorist experts in carrying out this attack,” Minister Bogollagama said. He added that they looked forward to the release of the interim report which would be handed over to the Pakistani government soon.

Pak identifies mastermind

A little-known militant Muhammad Aqil has been identified by Pakistani security agencies as the mastermind of the audacious attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, but raids across the city to nab him proved futile on Monday as he managed to escape.

The security agencies conducted raids at several places after identifying Aqil, who has links to a banned militant group. However, the name of the group was not revealed.

Though Aqil, who hails from Kahuta, managed to escape, his accomplice Talat was captured, Geo News channel quoted sources as saying.

Talat and Aqil had been living a in flat near the Liberty traffic roundabout, where the Sri Lankan team was attacked on March 3 by a dozen gunmen who ambushed its luxury bus, leaving seven players and an assistant coach injured and eight people dead.

Talat purchased a mobile phone SIM that was used by the terrorists involved in the attack, Geo News reported. Aqil masterminded the attack and was also in-charge of its execution, it added. (PTI)