South Block sources said there have been at least eight public statements from Pakistan since December 9, including that of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Defence Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar, which have been contradicting each other. This, according to sources, exposes that the Pakistan establishment was trying to shield Masood Azhar — who was let off in exchange for Indian hostages after the IC 814 hijacking in Kandahar — though he was proscribed by the UN Security Council’s anti-terror resolutions.

To understand the contradictions, consider the following sequence of statements:

•Dec 9: Pakistan media gives initial reports of Masood Azhar’s detention at his home in Bahawalpur.

•Dec 9: Bahawalpur police officer Azhar Hameed Khokhar tells Aaj TV that Masood Azhar’s movements had not been restricted.

•Dec 9: Defence Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar tells CNN-IBN that Masood Azhar had been detained and Pakistan “might allow” Indian investigators to question him.

•Dec 10: Pak PM Yousuf Raza Gilani tells reporters “we are awaiting the latest reports about Maulana Masood Azhar; the other two are being investigated”. He did not confirm or deny Azhar’s detention.

•Dec 17: Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik, in an interview to Network 18, says the government had not detained Azhar as part of the ongoing clampdown on militant and terrorist groups. He even claims Azhar is not in Pakistan.

•Dec 17: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while speaking to Dawn News channel’s 9 pm News Eye programme, says “important people that were required have been taken into custody. They are under detention”. Asked if these people include Azhar and whether he had been put under house arrest or was in custody, Qureshi replies, “yes, in custody”. He clarifies that he was speaking on the basis of information available with him.

•Dec 17: State-run APP news agency puts out a report quoting Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at 10 pm, “Maulana Masood Azhar is wanted by the Government of Pakistan, but he is not in our custody and he is at large”.

•Dec 18: A Pakistan Foreign Affairs Ministry press release, “in response to media queries”, says the Foreign Minister had clarified his remarks regarding Azhar’s whereabouts. “The minister said Azhar is wanted by the law enforcement authorities of Pakistan and is at large”.

Sources said these statements clearly indicate the inherent contradictions in the public pronouncements of the Pakistan Government, even as internationally-wanted terrorists are finding a safe haven in their territory.