Mumbai attacks trial adjourned again till February 26

Islamabad (PTI) - A Pakistani anti-terror court
has adjourned the trial of seven suspects, including LeT
commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in the Mumbai terror attack
case till February 26 after prosecutors sought more time for
the Lahore High Court to decide a related petition.
The prosecution team told anti-terrorism court Judge
Rana Nisar Ahmed during a hearing on Thursday that more time
is needed for the High Court to decide on its plea to declare
lone surviving Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab and terror suspect
Fahim Ansari as "proclaimed offenders" or fugitives.
The prosecutors told the judge they were hopeful that
the petition would be listed by the High Court for hearing
next week, sources told PTI.
The judge then adjourned the proceedings in the
anti-terrorism court till February 26, the sources said.
The Federal Investigation Agency's plea was listed for
hearing by the High Court earlier this month but could not be
taken up as the bench handling the petition was dissolved
following the retirement of a judge.
Judge Ahmed had earlier expressed concern at the delay
caused by the FIA's petition in the High Court and observed
that there should not be any further delays.
Pakistani national Kasab was sentenced to death by a
court in Mumbai for his role in the attacks on India's
financial hub that killed 166 people in November 2008.
Ansari, an Indian national, was acquitted by the same
court but continues to be in custody in connection with other
cases.
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 trial from
that of the seven Pakistani suspects.