Rana trial set for Monday

From Himani Kumar
Chicago, May 22 (PTI) In perhaps the most important
terrorism trial ever to be held here, Pakistani-Canadian
Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a co-accused in the Mumbai attack case
is expected to spill the beans on ISI's role in the terror
strike.
The arguments in the trial of 50-year-old Rana,
co-accused with Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley in
the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, will be heard by a 12-member
jury Monday.
The jurors, four men and eight women, have been
selected from a pool of possible 38, and sworn-in after being
questioned by US District Court Judge Harry D Leinenweber
about their understanding and views on Islam, citizenship and
terrorism.
The jury, mostly consisting of minorities like blacks
and Asians, was formed out of 100 jurors that were questioned.
Headley, an operative of LeT, a co-accused in the
Mumbai trial case may spill the beans about his links with ISI
during his ongoing trial.
The trial assumes significance especially as it comes
in the wake of the death of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May
2.
The trial of Rana could reveal ISI's links to
terrorists and any evidence of spy agency's "malfeasance"
would worsen US-Pakistan relations, the New York Times
reported recently.
Headley, who himself is not on trial will be the main
witness against Rana, is set to recount his story of the
Mumbai (in the western Indian state of Maharashtra) attack
during the trial, it said.
"What he (Headley) discloses could deepen suspicions
that Pakistani spies are connected to terrorists and could
potentially worsen relations between Washington and
Islamabad," it said.
Headley, 50, Rana's old friend from military school in
Pakistan, claims that two years before terrorists struck
Mumbai, he began laying the groundwork for the attack,
financed by USD 25,000 from an officer in Pakistan's powerful
intelligence service.
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 ISI Directorate, "assured me of the financial
help," the Times said.
Pakistan has been dismissing Headley's accusations
against the ISI as little more than a desperate performance by
a man hoping to avoid the death penalty.
Rana, 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.
Arrested in Chicago over the Mumbai attacks, Rana had
claimed that he provided "material support" to 26/11
terrorists at the behest of Pakistani government and ISI.
If convicted, Rana faces a possible life sentence.
While Headley has pleaded guilty, Rana has not pleaded
guilty.