RAWALPINDI: Anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of seven
suspects charged in the Mumbai attacks case summoned four prosecution
witnesses Saturday to record their statements at the next hearing on 19
November.
Judge Mr Shahid Rafique, who is conducting the trial
in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail for security reasons, summoned the witnesses
to depose as proceedings got underway again following a delay of
several weeks.
The case had been held up due to a petition filed
in the Lahore High Court by Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba commander Zakiur Rehman
Lakhvi, the main accused in the case.
Lakhvi had sought the
transfer of the case from Rawalpindi to Lahore, saying he had no
confidence in Mr Rafique, reported PTI. The Lahore High Court dismissed
Lakhvi’s petition on 31 October, saying the matter came under the
jurisdiction of the Islamabad High Court. The court said Lakhvi could
approach the Islamabad High Court.
Lakhvi’s counsel Khwaja Sultan said his client had not yet decided whether to approach the Islamabad High Court.
Prosecution
lawyer Mr Chaudhry Zulfiqar said the anti-terrorism court had already
dismissed Lakhvi’s petition for shifting the case to Lahore. The
Pakistan government recently said a judicial commission will soon visit
India to interview key persons linked to the probe into the 2008 Mumbai
terrorist attacks. The date for the commission’s visit is yet to be
announced.
Interior minister Mr Malik said last year that it was
necessary for the commission to visit India and interview a magistrate
and police officers who were involved in the investigation of the Mumbai
attacks. The testimony of the Indian officials is needed to proceed
with the prosecution of the Pakistani suspects, he had said. Online
