2008 Mumbai attacks: Pakistani panelists stopped from cross-questioning Indian officials
Judicial panel completes recording statement, will return home on Wednesday.
LAHORE:
An eight-member panel who was in India to record statements of the Indian officials who had interviewed Ajmal Kasab and conducted autopsy of the gunmen killed in the terror attack has complained that Indian authorities did not allow them to cross-question.
A member of the panel, while talking to The Express Tribune confirmed that the panel had completed recording statements of the Indian officials including the Chief investigative officer who had questioned Ajmal Kasab and two doctors who had conducted autopsy on eight of his accomplices.
Over 160 people were killed and many more injured when 10 gunmen rampaged through the streets of Mumbai in November 2008 – including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. India had blamed the Pakistan based charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa( JuD), and its militant wing Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
A member of panel while talking to The Express Tribune complained that despite being given the mandate, the defence as well as the prosecution lawyers were stopped by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Judicial Commission) from cross-examining the Chief Investigator, lady magistrate and doctors who had recorded statements of Ajmal Kasab and conducted the autopsy of those who had been killed during attacks respectively.
When the Pakistani team insisted that it be given the chance, Indian officials angrily replied that the panel had no such mandate despite the fact the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate appointed as Judicial Commission by the Chief Justice of Mumbai High Court for recording the evidence in compliance to the order of Anti Terrorism Court No1 Rawalpindi in his order had allowed to the defence lawyers as well prosecutors to cross examine.
Another panel member said that proceedings had been completed in only two days.
The panel is due to leave India on Wednesday because the delay in flight schedules to Pakistan.
Documents of proceedings, including statements of the Chief Investigator, Lady Magistrate and two doctors will be sent to Pakistan by the Indian government through formal diplomatic channel, sources familiar with the matter further revealed.
An eight-member panel who was in India to record statements of the Indian officials who had interviewed Ajmal Kasab and conducted autopsy of the gunmen killed in the terror attack has complained that Indian authorities did not allow them to cross-question.
A member of the panel, while talking to The Express Tribune confirmed that the panel had completed recording statements of the Indian officials including the Chief investigative officer who had questioned Ajmal Kasab and two doctors who had conducted autopsy on eight of his accomplices.
Over 160 people were killed and many more injured when 10 gunmen rampaged through the streets of Mumbai in November 2008 – including the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. India had blamed the Pakistan based charity Jamaat-ud-Dawa( JuD), and its militant wing Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
A member of panel while talking to The Express Tribune complained that despite being given the mandate, the defence as well as the prosecution lawyers were stopped by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Judicial Commission) from cross-examining the Chief Investigator, lady magistrate and doctors who had recorded statements of Ajmal Kasab and conducted the autopsy of those who had been killed during attacks respectively.
When the Pakistani team insisted that it be given the chance, Indian officials angrily replied that the panel had no such mandate despite the fact the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate appointed as Judicial Commission by the Chief Justice of Mumbai High Court for recording the evidence in compliance to the order of Anti Terrorism Court No1 Rawalpindi in his order had allowed to the defence lawyers as well prosecutors to cross examine.
Another panel member said that proceedings had been completed in only two days.
The panel is due to leave India on Wednesday because the delay in flight schedules to Pakistan.
Documents of proceedings, including statements of the Chief Investigator, Lady Magistrate and two doctors will be sent to Pakistan by the Indian government through formal diplomatic channel, sources familiar with the matter further revealed.