New judge hears afresh arguments in Mumbai case

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Dec 4 (PTI) A Pakistani anti-terrorism
court conducting the trial of seven suspects charged with
involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks on Saturday heard fresh
arguments by the prosecution and defence lawyers on the
government's proposal to send a commission to India to
interview key witnesses.
Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed of the Rawalpindi-based court,
who took over the case last month, had decided that he would
hear afresh the arguments by the prosecution and defence on
the government's petition to send the commission to India to
question witnesses like Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving
attacker.
During Saturday's in-camera hearing, the prosecution told
the judge it was imperative for the commission to visit India
and interview the witnesses in order to take forward the
proceedings.
Defence lawyers opposed the move, saying there was no
provision in Pakistani laws for constituting such a
commission, sources told PTI.
The arguments remained inconclusive and would be taken
up at the next hearing scheduled for December 18.
In another significant development, the prosecution
team submitted a statement to the judge that said it would
withdraw a petition it had filed in the Lahore High Court to
challenge the anti-terrorism court's decision not to declare
Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari as proclaimed offenders.
The prosecution team had approached the High Court
earlier this year after the anti-terrorism court rejected its
petition for Kasab and Ansari to be declared proclaimed
offenders or fugitives.
Sources said the prosecution had decided to withdraw
the petition in the High Court as it was perceived to be
holding up proceedings in the anti-terrorism court.
Kasab has been convicted and sentenced to death by a
special court in India for his role in the attacks that killed
166 people in November 2008.
The same court acquitted Ansari, an Indian national,
though he continues to be in custody in connection with other
cases.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said earlier this year
that the trial of the seven suspects, including Lashker-e-
Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, had stalled and it was
imperative for a commission to visit India and record the
testimony of key witnesses.
However, lawyers defending the suspects have refused
to join the commission.
The trial of the Pakistani suspects has been mired in
controversy and delays since last year. (MORE) PTI