ID :
182564
Mon, 05/16/2011 - 22:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/182564
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US court set to begin jury selection in Rana case
Chicago, May 16 (PTI) A US court will begin jury
selection Monday in the case against Pakistani-Candian
Tahawwur Rana, a co-accused in 26/11 Mumbai attack case with
David Headley, which could reveal ISI's links to terrorists
and any evidence of spy agency's "malfeasance".
Rana, 50, who was indicted by a federal grand jury
under 12 counts on February 15 last year for planning the
attacks, providing material support to LeT to carry out the
attacks and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in
the process, is set to go on trial in Chicago tomorrow.
The Chicago court will begin the process of jury
selection Monday.
Rana, arrested in Chicago over the Mumbai attacks, in
the wake of his claim that he provided "material support" to
26/11 terrorists at the behest of Pakistani government and
ISI.
While Headley pleaded guilty, Rana has not.
As the United States presses Pakistan for answers
about whether the ISI played a role in harbouring Osama bin
Laden, Headley, who himself is not on trial but will be the
main witness against Rana, is set to recount his story of the
Mumbai attack in a federal courthouse.
"What he discloses could deepen suspicions that
Pakistani spies are connected to terrorists and could
potentially worsen relations between Washington and
Islamabad," New York Times reported Sunday.
Headley, 50, Rana's old friend from military school in
Pakistan, claims that two years before terrorists struck the
Indian port city of Mumbai, he began laying the groundwork for
the attack, financed by USD 25,000 from an officer in
Pakistan's powerful intelligence service.
Pakistani-American Headley had told Indian
investigators that the officer, known only as Major Iqbal,
"listened to my entire plan to attack India." Another officer
with the intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence
Directorate, "assured me of the financial help," the Times
said.
At the status hearing on May 12, discussions were held
about the commencement of trial next week, in what is
supposedly the most important terrorism trial ever to be held
here.
Commenting on recent reports that India may gain
access to him, like they did to Headley last year, Rana's
attorney Patrick Blegen had said that he was yet to be
approached by the Indian government.
On April 25, in a second superseding indictment, US
prosecutors charged four additional men, all Pakistani
residents, in the 26/11 terror attacks that left 166 dead,
including six Americans.
selection Monday in the case against Pakistani-Candian
Tahawwur Rana, a co-accused in 26/11 Mumbai attack case with
David Headley, which could reveal ISI's links to terrorists
and any evidence of spy agency's "malfeasance".
Rana, 50, who was indicted by a federal grand jury
under 12 counts on February 15 last year for planning the
attacks, providing material support to LeT to carry out the
attacks and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in
the process, is set to go on trial in Chicago tomorrow.
The Chicago court will begin the process of jury
selection Monday.
Rana, arrested in Chicago over the Mumbai attacks, in
the wake of his claim that he provided "material support" to
26/11 terrorists at the behest of Pakistani government and
ISI.
While Headley pleaded guilty, Rana has not.
As the United States presses Pakistan for answers
about whether the ISI played a role in harbouring Osama bin
Laden, Headley, who himself is not on trial but will be the
main witness against Rana, is set to recount his story of the
Mumbai attack in a federal courthouse.
"What he discloses could deepen suspicions that
Pakistani spies are connected to terrorists and could
potentially worsen relations between Washington and
Islamabad," New York Times reported Sunday.
Headley, 50, Rana's old friend from military school in
Pakistan, claims that two years before terrorists struck the
Indian port city of Mumbai, he began laying the groundwork for
the attack, financed by USD 25,000 from an officer in
Pakistan's powerful intelligence service.
Pakistani-American Headley had told Indian
investigators that the officer, known only as Major Iqbal,
"listened to my entire plan to attack India." Another officer
with the intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence
Directorate, "assured me of the financial help," the Times
said.
At the status hearing on May 12, discussions were held
about the commencement of trial next week, in what is
supposedly the most important terrorism trial ever to be held
here.
Commenting on recent reports that India may gain
access to him, like they did to Headley last year, Rana's
attorney Patrick Blegen had said that he was yet to be
approached by the Indian government.
On April 25, in a second superseding indictment, US
prosecutors charged four additional men, all Pakistani
residents, in the 26/11 terror attacks that left 166 dead,
including six Americans.
