ID :
62057
Sat, 05/23/2009 - 23:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/62057
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Confusion over Mumbai suspects` trial as judge`s contract ends
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, May 23 (PTI) Confusion surrounded the status
of the trial of five LeT militants, including its operations
chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in connection with Mumbai attacks
as apparently the contract of the judge hearing the case
expired and nobody has been appointed so far to replace him.
The five -- Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Hamad Amin Sadiq,
Abu al Qama and Shahid Jameel Riaz -- arrested after the 26/11
attacks were to be indicted Saturday by the anti-terror court
judge Sakhi Mohammad Kahut, who was hearing the case at the
high-security Adiala jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi
near here.
However, authorities did not renew the contract of Kahut
after its expiry recently, sources said, adding that no new
judge has been appointed so far to take up the case. They said
the hearing is unlikely to be held Saturday.
Shabaz Rajput, the counsel for the five LeT men, claimed
that judge Kahut was removed by the government with "malafide
intentions".
Kahut was familiar with the case and his removal will
hamper the trial, he told PTI.
The judge had earlier on May 12 deferred till May 23 the
indictment of the five LeT operatives as their advocate had
not appeared before him during the last hearing in view of a
countrywide strike by lawyers.
Kahut had also issued a notice to the counsel for the
suspects in connection with the Federal Investigation Agency's
application that the proceedings should be held in-camera due
to the sensitivity of the case.
The FIA had on May 5 submitted the "challan" or
chargesheet along with evidence against the suspects to Judge
Kahut.
Lakhvi, the operations commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba, was
arrested during a raid by the army near Muzaffarabad, the
capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in December last year.
India has accused him of masterminding the Mumbai attacks that
killed over 180 people.
Authorities have framed charges against the five suspects
under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Pakistan Penal Code and a cyber
crimes law.
Security at the Adiala Jail was recently tightened with
the deployment of 300 additional personnel and installation of
anti-aircraft guns following reports that militants could
attempt a jailbreak to free Lakhvi and other suspects. PTI
Islamabad, May 23 (PTI) Confusion surrounded the status
of the trial of five LeT militants, including its operations
chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in connection with Mumbai attacks
as apparently the contract of the judge hearing the case
expired and nobody has been appointed so far to replace him.
The five -- Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Hamad Amin Sadiq,
Abu al Qama and Shahid Jameel Riaz -- arrested after the 26/11
attacks were to be indicted Saturday by the anti-terror court
judge Sakhi Mohammad Kahut, who was hearing the case at the
high-security Adiala jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi
near here.
However, authorities did not renew the contract of Kahut
after its expiry recently, sources said, adding that no new
judge has been appointed so far to take up the case. They said
the hearing is unlikely to be held Saturday.
Shabaz Rajput, the counsel for the five LeT men, claimed
that judge Kahut was removed by the government with "malafide
intentions".
Kahut was familiar with the case and his removal will
hamper the trial, he told PTI.
The judge had earlier on May 12 deferred till May 23 the
indictment of the five LeT operatives as their advocate had
not appeared before him during the last hearing in view of a
countrywide strike by lawyers.
Kahut had also issued a notice to the counsel for the
suspects in connection with the Federal Investigation Agency's
application that the proceedings should be held in-camera due
to the sensitivity of the case.
The FIA had on May 5 submitted the "challan" or
chargesheet along with evidence against the suspects to Judge
Kahut.
Lakhvi, the operations commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba, was
arrested during a raid by the army near Muzaffarabad, the
capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in December last year.
India has accused him of masterminding the Mumbai attacks that
killed over 180 people.
Authorities have framed charges against the five suspects
under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Pakistan Penal Code and a cyber
crimes law.
Security at the Adiala Jail was recently tightened with
the deployment of 300 additional personnel and installation of
anti-aircraft guns following reports that militants could
attempt a jailbreak to free Lakhvi and other suspects. PTI
