For four weeks since the suicide attack on the Islamabad district and
sessions court on March 3, the trial of the seven accused in the Mumbai
terror strike of November 26, 2008, was held up.
Defence lawyer Rizwan Abbasi said that the case underway in the Anti
Terrorism Court (ATC) in the F/8 Markaz which was targeted, was being
heard in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and security concerns were voiced by
judge Atiq ur Rehman.
He said an application was made to the law secretary to enhance security
at the jail where the trial is also conducted sometimes since the
accused cannot be transported outside.
Now the ATC has been shifted to sector G 11 and Mr. Abbasi has moved an
application for the accused to be exempted from appearance. While no
witness could be cross examined last month, the case will now be heard
next Wednesday.
Earlier, the court heard the matter every week and that is likely to
continue as is the practice if there is some satisfaction over security.
About 32 witnesses have been examined so far in the case.
He said it was not only the Mumbai case but all other cases which were
held up due to security concerns after the attack on the court. Most of
the cases were adjourned as a result last month.
The prosecution had earlier said there were several witnesses left to be
examined and they also had a list of some people whose testimony had to
be recorded. The old team of defence lawyers was replaced by Mr Abbasi
in a well publicized event last year.
He had said that the trial was moving very slowly and was planning to
approach the higher courts for a speedy closure. India has been
demanding that Pakistan punish the guilty in the Mumbai attacks and the
suspects include Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hammad
Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younus Anjum.
Proceedings started in 2009 but have dragged on and one of the
prosecutors Chaudhry Zulfiqar was shot dead in May 2013. The current
prosecutor had also demanded increased security cover.
