26/11 case: Pak court adjourns trial for two weeks

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Jun 12 (PTI) A Pakistani anti-terrorism court
conducting the trial of LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and
six other suspects linked to the Mumbai attacks Saturday
adjourned the proceedings for two weeks after the prosecution
sought time to appoint a new prosecutor.
Special Public Prosecutor Malik Rab Nawaz Noon, who was
heading the prosecution team, recently died of a heart attack.
Public Prosecutor Zulfiqar Ahmed appeared in the
anti-terrorism court of Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan and
asked for time so that the government could appoint a
replacement for Noon.
Defence lawyers Shahbaz Rajput and Khwaja Sultan told PTI
that the judge adjourned the trial of the seven suspects till
June 26.
"There were no other proceedings today (Saturday),"
Rajput said.
He said proceedings were also affected by some "security
concerns."
The proceedings were conducted in the office of the
Deputy Superintendent of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi instead of
a makeshift courtroom within the prison.
Sources said security in Adiala Jail had been tightened
after two men were recently arrested while trying to supply
weapons to prisoners.
It could not immediately be ascertained whom the two men
had tried to provide weapons to.
Lakhvi and the other suspects have been charged under the
Anti-Terrorism Act, Pakistan Penal Code and a cyber crimes law
for planning and facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attacks that
killed 166 people.
The trial has been mired in controversy and numerous
delays since last year.
Sources said the federal Law Ministry had recommended
that a deputy attorney general should be appointed to head the
prosecution team as part of efforts to speed up the trial. PTI
RHL
KAB


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