Proceedings for the Mumbai attacks case have been put off till September 1 after defence lawyers failed to appear before a trial court on Saturday.
Special anti-terrorism court (ATC-I) judge, Chaudhry Habibur Rehman, adjourned the hearing following the absence of Advocate Khawaja Haris Ahmed, representing Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The trial court was meant to record the statements of two prosecution witnesses – Nawaz Naji, the owner of money exchange shop Euro 2005 in Islamabad, and his employee Arshad Khan.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claims that Pakistani handlers of the attackers in India managed to transfer money to the US through Naji’s company and set up an internet protocol there. Using the internet protocol, the handlers called the attackers and kept on directing them during the November 2008 attacks.
The two money changers were to record their statements regarding who sent $250 to the US and who received it.
The trial court, however, was unable to record the statements after Khawaja Haris failed to make an appearance as one of his associates had sought adjournment.
However, FIA Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ahmed told The Express Tribune that the trial court could have in fact recorded the statements of the prosecution witnesses.
He said the trial court had only declared the statements of four Indian officials as not admissible in the absence of any cross examination.
Other proceedings such as recording the statements of prosecution witnesses can be carried out, he added.
Ahmed further said that the federal government had sent a rejoinder to the Indian authorities asking for their permission to cross-examine four Indian witnesses.
The trial court further summoned two employees of the interior ministry as prosecution witnesses in the case.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Yes more Insult to injury for the victim's families ! This the best Pakistan can offer, so please don't hold your breath, that they will act to bring culprits responsible to ever answer or hold them for their crimes, yet they want "good relations " with their neighbours !
Now direct decision is being delivered by Drone .
Wait and see only the time time will teach them .