Pak judge conducting 26/11 trial wants to quit case

(Adding details)

Rezaul H Laskar and M Zulqernain
Islamabad/Lahore, Oct 21 (PTI) In a setback to the trial
of seven suspects linked to the Mumbai attacks, the Pakistani
judge hearing the case wants to be relieved of it citing
"security issues", even as defence lawyers charged him with
being biased against the accused.
Judge Baqir Ali Rana of the anti-terrorism court, who has
been conducting the trial of the suspects, including LeT's
operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in the high-security
Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, Tuesday sent a formal request to
the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court for the case to be
transferred to some other judge.
Rana cited "security issues" as the reason for his
request, sources told PTI.
There are also reports that Rana received threats from
the LeT because the suspects were indicted in the absence of
their lawyers during a hearing on October 10.
On the other hand, the four defence lawyers yesterday
filed an application with Chief Justice Khwaja Mohammad Sharif
of the Lahore High Court in which they accused Rana of being
biased against the suspects.
Chief Justice Sharif today issued a notice that asked
Rana to explain his position within a week, sources said.
The next hearing of the case is scheduled for October 24.
(More) PTI RHL MZ
PMR



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