ID :
186163
Thu, 06/02/2011 - 21:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/186163
The shortlink copeid
Maj Iqbal asked Rana about progress in Mumbai plot, court told
From Himani Kumar
Chicago, Jun 2 (PTI) Major Iqbal, believed to be an
ISI officer, had asked Pakistan-born Canadian Tahawwur Hussain
Rana about the progress made on the Mumbai terror plot, FBI
testified before a court here, in another pointer to the
involvement of Pakistan's intelligence agency in the attacks.
Iqbal had telephonic talk with Rana and another
co-accused in the Mumbai attacks David Coleman Headley, a
Pakistani-American, and exchanged e-mails with them, five FBI
agents testified during Rana's trial in the court hearing the
26/11 case.
In an e-mail of July 7, 2008, Iqbal asked Rana if
there was any "progress made on the project". Prosecutors said
he was seeking an update on the preparations for the 26/11
attacks.
Defence attorneys, however, argued that any discussion
Iqbal had with Rana was focussed on their plans to work as
partners in Rana's immigration business.
In his deposition, Headley, an LeT operative, had
said that Iqbal had given money to Rana to open a business
office in Mumbai which was used as a cover to zero in on
targets for the attacks.
An e-mail sent from a Chaudhery Khan, another name for
Major Iqbal, from chaudherykhan@yahoo.com in which he gave his
mobile number for future contacts, was shown in the court by
prosecutor Sarah Streicker.
Another e-email from tahawwur@yahoo.com in which Rana
booked Headley's flight on December 8, 2008, from New York to
Chicago with a stop at Atlanta, was also placed before the
court.
According to the FBI, Rana, who has been slapped with
charges of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba for
the Mumbai attacks, knowingly helped Headley carry out
surveillance of potential bombing targets.
Besides Mumbai, this included surveillance of the
German Bakery in Pune as also Chabad Houses in Delhi, Pushkar
and Pune.
Headley had said that he had made a video of the German
Bakery, which was bombed on February 13, 2010 killing
17 people and injuring 60 others. The Bakery is located near
the Chabad House and Osho Ashram in Pune.
The FBI contended that when Headley was arrested at the
O'Hare international airport here in 2009, he was carrying
among other things a map of Copenhagen, a Jewish prayer book
and a copy of the Danish newspaper that had raised a storm by
publishing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.
The verdict in the trial of Rana is likely to come as
early as on June 8 as the Chicago businessman is unlikely to
testify at his own trial.
Attorney Patrick Blegen said Rana's defence team was
still making a final decision, but it was unlikely that Rana
would depose.
The case has proceeded quickly with Headley wrapping
up his testimony after five days of questioning by prosecution
and defence lawyers in the trial of Rana, his childhood friend
and a 26/11 co-accused, in a Chicago court.
Prosecutors called seven witnesses on Thursday, including
the five FBI agents who verified email and phone communication
between Rana, Headley and Iqbal.
US District Court Judge Harry D Leinenweber said the case
has proceeded quickly partly because both the government and
defence had no problems with the stipulation.
A stipulation is an agreement between opposing parties
prior to a pending hearing or trial when both parties agree on
certain aspects on which they do not argue.
The judge adjourned the hearing till Monday. "We're
fairly close to the end of the case," Leinenweber said.
"We're going to suspend now until Monday, 09:30 am," he
added.
On Monday, the last of the witnesses will be presented.
The trial will resume with testimonies from Rana's witnesses
among others.
Final arguments will be on Tuesday and deliberations
are scheduled on the same day.
The jury will deliberate after weighing the pros and
cons and given information and arguments to evaluate.
The jury could come up with a verdict whether Rana is
guilty or not as early as Wednesday.
At the start of the trial, Leinenweber had stated that
it would tentatively end by June 15.
Rana was indicted by a federal grand jury under 12 counts
on February 15 last year for planning out the attacks,
providing material support to LeT to carry out the bombings
and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in the
process.
Rana, on the other hand, said that he was duped by
Headley, who has pleaded guilty to scouting sites in Mumbai.
Headley has pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism charges
relating to Mumbai attacks and other plots since his arrest in
2009.
Chicago, Jun 2 (PTI) Major Iqbal, believed to be an
ISI officer, had asked Pakistan-born Canadian Tahawwur Hussain
Rana about the progress made on the Mumbai terror plot, FBI
testified before a court here, in another pointer to the
involvement of Pakistan's intelligence agency in the attacks.
Iqbal had telephonic talk with Rana and another
co-accused in the Mumbai attacks David Coleman Headley, a
Pakistani-American, and exchanged e-mails with them, five FBI
agents testified during Rana's trial in the court hearing the
26/11 case.
In an e-mail of July 7, 2008, Iqbal asked Rana if
there was any "progress made on the project". Prosecutors said
he was seeking an update on the preparations for the 26/11
attacks.
Defence attorneys, however, argued that any discussion
Iqbal had with Rana was focussed on their plans to work as
partners in Rana's immigration business.
In his deposition, Headley, an LeT operative, had
said that Iqbal had given money to Rana to open a business
office in Mumbai which was used as a cover to zero in on
targets for the attacks.
An e-mail sent from a Chaudhery Khan, another name for
Major Iqbal, from chaudherykhan@yahoo.com in which he gave his
mobile number for future contacts, was shown in the court by
prosecutor Sarah Streicker.
Another e-email from tahawwur@yahoo.com in which Rana
booked Headley's flight on December 8, 2008, from New York to
Chicago with a stop at Atlanta, was also placed before the
court.
According to the FBI, Rana, who has been slapped with
charges of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba for
the Mumbai attacks, knowingly helped Headley carry out
surveillance of potential bombing targets.
Besides Mumbai, this included surveillance of the
German Bakery in Pune as also Chabad Houses in Delhi, Pushkar
and Pune.
Headley had said that he had made a video of the German
Bakery, which was bombed on February 13, 2010 killing
17 people and injuring 60 others. The Bakery is located near
the Chabad House and Osho Ashram in Pune.
The FBI contended that when Headley was arrested at the
O'Hare international airport here in 2009, he was carrying
among other things a map of Copenhagen, a Jewish prayer book
and a copy of the Danish newspaper that had raised a storm by
publishing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.
The verdict in the trial of Rana is likely to come as
early as on June 8 as the Chicago businessman is unlikely to
testify at his own trial.
Attorney Patrick Blegen said Rana's defence team was
still making a final decision, but it was unlikely that Rana
would depose.
The case has proceeded quickly with Headley wrapping
up his testimony after five days of questioning by prosecution
and defence lawyers in the trial of Rana, his childhood friend
and a 26/11 co-accused, in a Chicago court.
Prosecutors called seven witnesses on Thursday, including
the five FBI agents who verified email and phone communication
between Rana, Headley and Iqbal.
US District Court Judge Harry D Leinenweber said the case
has proceeded quickly partly because both the government and
defence had no problems with the stipulation.
A stipulation is an agreement between opposing parties
prior to a pending hearing or trial when both parties agree on
certain aspects on which they do not argue.
The judge adjourned the hearing till Monday. "We're
fairly close to the end of the case," Leinenweber said.
"We're going to suspend now until Monday, 09:30 am," he
added.
On Monday, the last of the witnesses will be presented.
The trial will resume with testimonies from Rana's witnesses
among others.
Final arguments will be on Tuesday and deliberations
are scheduled on the same day.
The jury will deliberate after weighing the pros and
cons and given information and arguments to evaluate.
The jury could come up with a verdict whether Rana is
guilty or not as early as Wednesday.
At the start of the trial, Leinenweber had stated that
it would tentatively end by June 15.
Rana was indicted by a federal grand jury under 12 counts
on February 15 last year for planning out the attacks,
providing material support to LeT to carry out the bombings
and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in the
process.
Rana, on the other hand, said that he was duped by
Headley, who has pleaded guilty to scouting sites in Mumbai.
Headley has pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism charges
relating to Mumbai attacks and other plots since his arrest in
2009.
