26/11 case: Pak court declares Kasab, 13 others `absconders`

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Oct 31 (PTI) A Pakistani anti-terror court
conducting the trial of seven suspects in connection with the
Mumbai attacks Saturday declared 14 other accused, including
Ajmal Kasab, as "absconders" and adjourned the matter till
November 7.
During Saturday's proceedings, Judge Malik Muhammad
Akram Awan declared 14 other suspects linked to the attacks -–
including Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive by Indian
authorities during the strikes -- as "absconders," sources
said.
Details of the other 13 were not immediately available.
Khwaja Sultan, the lawyer representing Lashker-e-Taiba
(LeT) operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi -- one of the
seven suspects arrested by Pakistani authorities, told PTI
that Judge Awan adjourned the case till next Saturday.
Saturday's proceedings were dominated by reservations
expressed by the accused over the manner in which they were
indicted during a hearing held on October 10.
Judge Baqir Ali Rana, who was earlier conducting the
trial, had formally charged the accused in the absence of
their lawyers.
The accused, who have declined to plead guilty or not
guilty, Saturday again protested about the manner in which
they were charged, sources said. (More) PTI