Pak seeks testimony of Indian magistrate in Mumbai case

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Aug 9 (PTI) Pakistani prosecutors Monday
filed an application seeking permission for an Indian
magistrate and a police officer to depose via video
conferencing in the anti-terrorism court conducting the trial
of seven suspects charged with involvement in the 2008 Mumbai
attacks.
The prosecutors filed the application in the court
of Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan, who is conducting the
trial of the seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba
commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Pakistan had earlier asked India to send additional
chief metropolitan magistrate R V Sawant Waghule, who recorded
the confession of lone surviving Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab,
and investigating officer Ramesh Mahale to testify in the
Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court.
Indian authorities ruled out the possibility of
sending the two officials to Pakistan but said they could
depose via video conferencing.
Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said
the testimony of the two Indian officials is a legal
requirement and could help speed up the trial of the seven
Pakistani suspects.
Experts have said the testimony of the two Indian
officials is crucial as the Pakistani prosecution's case is
largely based on Kasab's confessional statement.
Lawyers defending the seven suspects described the
prosecution's application as a delaying tactic and said they
would contest it.
"This application is frivolous and a waste of time.
Deposition through video conferencing is not possible under
Pakistan's existing laws," Shahbaz Rajput, one of the defence
lawyers, told PTI.
"We will contest this application. Our clients have
been in custody for nearly two years and such applications by
the prosecution are simply aimed at prolonging the case," said
Rajput.
In a related development, Judge Awan put off the
hearing of the bail application filed by Lakhvi after the new
special public prosecutor appointed by the government sought
an adjournment.
Azhar Mehmood, the new special public prosecutor,
sought the adjournment as he was busy with another case in the
Lahore High Court.
At a recent hearing, the judge had reserved his
decision on the bail application after hearing arguments by
the prosecution and the defence.
The bail plea is now expected to be taken up at the
next hearing of the Mumbai attacks case on August 28.
Lakhvi and the six other suspects have been charged
with planning and facilitating the attacks in India's
financial hub that killed 166 people in November 2008.
An Indian anti-terrorism court has already convicted
Kasab for his role in the carnage and sentenced him to death.
PTI RHL
MRD


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