26/11 case: Pak prosecutors seek voice samples of suspects

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Aug 7 (PTI) Pakistani prosecutors Saturday
filed an application before an anti-terrorism court seeking
voice samples of LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six
other suspects in the Mumbai attack case, the proceedings of
which were adjourned for three weeks.
The case was put off till August 28 as Judge Malik
Muhammad Akram Awan was on leave for personal reasons.
Sources said the judge of the Rawalpindi-based
anti-terrorism court had taken leave as his sister was unwell
and had been hospitalised.
The prosecution filed an application seeking voice
samples of Lakhvi and the other accused in view of a request
made by Indian authorities, sources told PTI.
The application is expected to be taken up at the next
hearing.
Indian authorities have sought the voice samples of the
accused so that they can be matched with recordings of
Pakistan-based handlers, who were coordinating the actions of
the 10 terrorists who carried out the attacks in Mumbai.
Khwaja Sultan, the counsel for Lakhvi, expressed his
opposition to the prosecution's efforts to obtain the voice
samples.
He claimed the prosecution was following the directives
of Indian authorities even though India had not provided
information and materials on the Mumbai attacks that had been
sought by Pakistan.
Shahbaz Rajput, one of the defence lawyers, told PTI that
the court is expected to take up Lakhvi's bail application on
August 9 if the judge is on duty that day.
At the last hearing on July 31, Judge Awan had reserved
his judgement on Lakhvi's bail application after hearing
arguments by the defence and prosecution lawyers.
Judge Awan has been conducting the trial behind closed
doors in the heavily-guarded Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for
security reasons.
Lakhvi and six other suspects have been charged under the
Anti-Terrorism Act, Pakistan Penal Code and a cyber crimes
law. They have been accused of planning and facilitating the
attacks on India's financial hub that killed 166 people in
November 2008.
The trial has been mired in controversy due to several
delays.
Only two of over 160 witnesses named by the prosecution
have testified so far and the judge has been changed twice.
Lakhvi's counsel has filed more than seven petitions
seeking his acquittal, challenging the case prepared by the
prosecution and asking for the trial to be transferred to
another court. PTI