ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: A preliminary investigation into the information provided by New Delhi about the Mumbai attacks would be completed in 10 days, but all suspects would be tried in Pakistan, the prime minister’s adviser on interior said on Saturday.

“I have given … 10 days to the three-member FIA committee to complete a preliminary report,” Rehman Malik told a press conference.

The adviser’s statement was a clear indication that Pakistan would shortly begin trial of some people suspected of involvement in the Mumbai attacks.

However, government sources said trials would be in camera and media would be briefed about the proceedings later.

According to analysts, the second press conference held by the adviser in just three days appeared to be a bid to assure the Indian government and the international community that Pakistan was seriously investigating “non-state actors” over the Mumbai tragedy.

The sources said Pakistan was determined to try most of the people wanted by India because the government believed that they had embarrassed the country to fulfil their own agenda.

“We will try to convert the information provided by India into evidence so that cases can be registered against the perpetrators and they can be brought to justice inside Pakistan,” Mr Malik said.

“The FIA team’s terms of reference have taken care of the ‘do more’ refrain.”

In reply to a question whether the probe had been initiated to deflect international pressure, Mr Malik said Pakistan had launched its own investigation into the Mumbai carnage and that no county, including Britain, could dictate the government’s policy.

“More evidence will be collected and the perpetrators will be tried under Pakistani laws.

We want concrete evidence from India that could stand up in court.”

He hinted that investigators had found some clues that carried the trail outside Pakistan. “We will disclose them later,” the adviser said, adding that the inquiry report would be made public.

Pakistan has said it had shut down extremist websites and suspected militant group’s training camps, detaining 71 people.

Besides, Islamabad has arrested 124 people in a crackdown on militant groups.

“They have been arrested under MPO 16, a law concerning maintenance of public order and anyone found to be innocent will be freed,” the adviser said.

Mr Malik reiterated Islamabad’s call for a joint investigation into the attacks and urged India to hand over more information to assist Pakistan’s own probe. “We are fully committed to helping India in this investigation,” he said.

On Jan 5, India handed over to Pakistan a dossier containing what it claimed was evidence of the involvement of Pakistanis.

The dossier included information on interrogations, weapons and data gleaned from satellite phones used by the suspects.

India said the material proved “Pakistan-based militants” had plotted and executed the attacks.

Moreover, it has been repeatedly insinuating that Pakistani intelligence agents had a role in executing the plan.