Pakistan media plays down Hamza arrest

New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) In complete contrast to the Indian media, the Pakistani media Tuesday appeared to play down the dramatic arrest of a key mastermind of the Mumbai terror attack.

Most newspapers carried New Delhi-datelined stories by AFP on Sayyad Zabiuddin alias Abu Jindal Hamza, an Indian who was deported to India from Saudi Arabia despite carrying a Pakistani passport.

A Geo TV report quoted the Indian media as saying that the Special Cell of Delhi Police had made the arrest at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here.

Quoting police sources, the report said the man "is believed to have provided assistance to 26/11 terrorists. He is reported to be involved with the Indian Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba terror groups.

"The suspect had been on the run since 2006 when he went to Pakistan, Indian media claimed."

The Daily Times, The Nation, The News and the Dawn newspapers carried AFP stories.

Abu Hamza, an Indian-born member of the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, was allegedly one of the handlers who from Karachi instructed by telephone the 10 gunmen as they went on a killing spree in Mumbai in November 2008.

The Mumbai carnage left 166 people dead and led to major tensions between India and Pakistan.