Lawyers representing Mumbai attackers fear for their lives

M Zulqernain
Lahore, Feb 17 (PTI) Lawyers representing seven
Pakistani suspects currently being tried by an anti-terror
court for alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks have
claimed that their lives are in danger and no security is
being provided to them despite a court order in this regard.
"I have asked the concerned authorities whether will
they act only when any of us is targeted the way the lawyer of
(Indian national Sabahuddin) Ansari, Shahid Azmi, was gunned
down in Mumbai," Khwaja Sultan, counsel for Lashker-e-Taiba
commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, told PTI.
Sultan said after he had filed an application, Lahore
High Court Chief Justice Khwaja Mohammad Sharif had directed
authorities to provide security to all five defence lawyers.
He contended that not even a single policeman had
been deputed to protect the lawyers.
"This is a high-profile case and anything can happen
to lawyers representing either the accused or the state,"
Sultan said.
He claimed the venue of the trial – Adiala Jail in
Rawalpindi – was "highly unsafe" and said the case should be
shifted to Lahore.
"I had requested the Lahore High Court to shift the
case to Lahore primarily for the safety of lawyers.
The High Court Chief Justice must take notice of the
flouting of his order and provide us security without any
further delay," he said.
Lakhvi is accused of masterminding the Mumbai carnage
and providing training and weapons to the 10 terrorists
involved in the attacks.
Besides Lakhvi and the six other men currently on
trial, another 20 suspects are absconding. PTI MZ
AHM