ID :
157105
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 15:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/157105
The shortlink copeid
U-turn by Pak prosecutors in Mumbai terror case
Lahore/Islamabad, Jan 12 (PTI) In yet another twist in
the trial of seven Pakistani suspects linked to the Mumbai
terror attacks, prosecutors have done a U-turn on a proposal
to drop a legal move to get Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari
declared as "proclaimed offenders" or fugitives.
The Federal Investigation Agency has decided to pursue
a petition filed in the Lahore High Court to challenge an
anti-terrorism court's decision not to declare Kasab and
Ansari as fugitives.
Prosecutors had recently told the anti-terrorism
court, which is conducting the trial of the seven suspects,
that they planned to withdraw the petition.
The High Court will take up the FIA's petition
tomorrow, an official in the prosecution team said.
"We have now decided not to withdraw the appeal," the
official, who did not want to be named, told PTI.
Shahbaz Rajput, one of the defence lawyers, too said
the prosecution team had backtracked from its earlier stance.
Legal experts said the surprise move would add to the
complexity of the case against the seven Pakistani suspects,
including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
They said the proceedings in the anti-terrorism case
were unlikely to move forward till the case in the Lahore High
Court is settled.
The FIA's petition asks the High Court to declare
Kasab and Ansari as proclaimed offenders, to issue
non-bailable warrants for them and to de-link their case from
that of the seven Pakistani suspects.
Kasab has been sentenced to death by a special court
in Mumbai for his role in the attacks that killed 166 people.
Ansari was acquitted by the same court but continues
to be in custody for other cases.
The FIA contended in its petition that Kasab and
Ansari should be declared proclaimed offenders as they were in
the custody of Indian authorities and could not be brought to
Pakistan.
The latest development reflects the confusion that has
surrounded Pakistan's efforts to prosecute the suspects
charged with planning, financing and executing the attacks.
Only one out of over 160 prosecution witnesses has
testified so far and the anti-terrorism court's judge has been
changed thrice.
the trial of seven Pakistani suspects linked to the Mumbai
terror attacks, prosecutors have done a U-turn on a proposal
to drop a legal move to get Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari
declared as "proclaimed offenders" or fugitives.
The Federal Investigation Agency has decided to pursue
a petition filed in the Lahore High Court to challenge an
anti-terrorism court's decision not to declare Kasab and
Ansari as fugitives.
Prosecutors had recently told the anti-terrorism
court, which is conducting the trial of the seven suspects,
that they planned to withdraw the petition.
The High Court will take up the FIA's petition
tomorrow, an official in the prosecution team said.
"We have now decided not to withdraw the appeal," the
official, who did not want to be named, told PTI.
Shahbaz Rajput, one of the defence lawyers, too said
the prosecution team had backtracked from its earlier stance.
Legal experts said the surprise move would add to the
complexity of the case against the seven Pakistani suspects,
including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
They said the proceedings in the anti-terrorism case
were unlikely to move forward till the case in the Lahore High
Court is settled.
The FIA's petition asks the High Court to declare
Kasab and Ansari as proclaimed offenders, to issue
non-bailable warrants for them and to de-link their case from
that of the seven Pakistani suspects.
Kasab has been sentenced to death by a special court
in Mumbai for his role in the attacks that killed 166 people.
Ansari was acquitted by the same court but continues
to be in custody for other cases.
The FIA contended in its petition that Kasab and
Ansari should be declared proclaimed offenders as they were in
the custody of Indian authorities and could not be brought to
Pakistan.
The latest development reflects the confusion that has
surrounded Pakistan's efforts to prosecute the suspects
charged with planning, financing and executing the attacks.
Only one out of over 160 prosecution witnesses has
testified so far and the anti-terrorism court's judge has been
changed thrice.
