Kasab gets new lawyer

Mumbai, Apr 16 (PTI) Mumbai terror attacks accused
Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab Thursday got a new lawyer, S G Abbas
Kazmi, who has defended several accused in the 1993 bomb
blasts case.

Special sessions judge M L Tahilyani Thursday appointed
Kazmi, a lawyer of 20 years standing, to defend Kasab after
the court was informed that there has been no response from
Pakistan authorities to Kasab's request for a Pakistani
lawyer.

"He is your lawyer," the judge told Kasab pointing at
Kazmi, who said he was ready to defend him. Kasab then smiled
at his new lawyer.

Kasab had requested for a Pakistani lawyer after the
judge yesterday removed Anjali Waghmare as his counsel on a
complaint of professional misconduct.

Special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam informed the court
that Kasab's request for a Pakistani lawyer has been forwarded
Wednesday to the joint secretary of the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) through a fax message.

However, there has been no response from the Pakistan
side so far, he said.

The judge while appointing Kazmi, requested the
government to fix reasonable fee to be paid to him for
defending Kasab.

He ordered for a copy of the chargesheet to be given to
Kazmi. The court also allowed advocate K P Pawar to assist
Kazmi in defending Kasab. PTI SVS
SAK
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