SC rejects Lakhvi's petition seeking acquittal in 26/11 case

Islamabad, May 27 (PTI) Pakistan Supreme Court
Thursday rejected a petition filed by LeT commander Zakiur
Rehman Lakhvi seeking acquittal in the Mumbai attacks case
after his counsel withdrew the plea.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar
Chaudhry said Lakhvi, one of the seven suspects being tried
for their involvement in Mumbai attacks, could approach the
higher courts after the anti-terrorism court decided the case.
Malik Rab Nawaz Noon, the senior advocate who
represented the government, told PTI that the Supreme Court
bench did not agree with the contention of Lakhvi's lawyer
that Ajmal Kasab's confessional statement to Indian
authorities had no value in Pakistan courts.
Ajmal Kasab is the lone surviving terrorist of the
Mumbai attacks and has been sentenced to death by a Mumbai
court.
In his petition, Lakhvi had sought his acquittal in
the Mumbai attacks case in a Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism
court and the termination of criminal proceedings against him.
Lakhvi's counsel had also asked the apex court to bar
the anti-terrorism court and the prosecution from using
Kasab's statement against his client because it was recorded
by an Indian magistrate.
In his confessional statement, Kasab had named
Lakhvi as the mastermin