JEDDAH: Pakistan's top civil and military leadership, including the president and the prime minister received death threats after US forces killed Osama Bin Laden last week, visiting Interior Minister of Pakistan Rehman Malik said here Sunday. Malik, who said he was among those who also received threats, spoke to Saudi Gazette during a visit to the Pakistan International School Jeddah (English Section). “Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism,” he said. “It is not fair for the world to accuse Pakistan of sheltering Osama Bin Laden.” The world, he said, should be asked “who brought Osama to Pakistan and who made him a terrorist,” Malik said. “The fact of the matter is that Osama was not our baby. When you have a devil in your house you don't blame him, but you blame the one who brought him in.” Pakistani intelligence agencies are working hard to fight terrorism and while there have been small failures, there have been considerable successes, he said. “Our intelligence is the first one which provided information about Bin Laden through the SIM card of one of the Al-Qaeda leaders,” he said, adding that the Al-Qaeda leader was isolated for many years before being slain. Malik said President Asif Ali Zardari will visit the Kingdom very soon. He also thanked King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for his kind support for the Pakistani people. “The King has a lot of love for the Pakistani people,” he said. The two nations are working together to fight terrorism, he noted. “We are fighting terrorism together,” he said. “Al-Qaeda is a part of many terrorist groups in the world and we must fight them. Prince Mohammad Bin Naif, the Saudi Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, has set an encouraging example for all of us to fight terrorism.” Later the minister interacted with PISJ students and offered the school a sponsored tour for 10 students to visit Pakistan and study the functions of various ministries. “Students are always the future of the country and future leaders of the nation,” he said. Sehar Kamran, principal of the school, said Malik's visit motivated the students. “His interaction with the students gave them satisfaction and encouragement to work hard,” she said. – Saudi Gazette (Fouzia Khan also contributed to the report) __
