Pak court adjourns hearing of Mumbai suspects till Sept 26

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Sep 19 (PTI) An anti-terrorism court here
conducting the trial of seven suspects linked with the Mumbai
terror attacks, including LeT operations commander Zakiur
Rehman Lakhvi, Saturday adjourned the hearing till September
26.

No other details of the proceedings were available due
to a strict media blackout imposed by Judge Baqir Ali Rana,
who is conducting the trial inside the high-security Adiala
Jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi due to security
reasons.

The hearings are being conducted in-camera and Rana
has issued a gag order, citing national security concerns as
well as the security of the accused and witnesses.

Sources told PTI that the judge adjourned the case
till September 26 following today's proceedings.

It is still not clear whether the seven accused have
been formally indicted as yet though authorities have so far
prepared two chargesheets against them. Lawyers representing
the accused said they had been directed by the judge to
strictly adhere to the gag order and not to discuss the
proceedings with the media.

Five LeT operatives – Lakhvi, communications expert
Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq and Shahid Jamil
Riaz – being tried by the anti-terrorism court.

They have been accused of providing training,
financial support, accommodation, equipment and communications
gear to the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai last year.

No details are available of the charges against the
two other suspects, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum. PTI RHL
DDC