Pak Anti-Terror Court Indicts Lakhvi, Six Others in 26/11 Case

For involvement in Mumbai terror attacks, charges have been framed against LeT’s operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others, while 16 others, including Amir Ajmal Kasab, have been announced proclaimed offenders, said reports.

According to reports, judge of anti-terror court Malik Muhammad Akram Awan, who is conducting the trial at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for security reasons, formally charged the seven suspects. However, the accused protested against their indictment.

Reports said that the judge also turned down bail plea of some of the accused, in addition to declaring 16 people as proclaimed offenders.

Ajmal Kasab and the crew members of the two boats used by the attackers are among those declared proclaimed offenders.

The anti-terror court has indicted the seven suspects on the eve of the first anniversary of the attacks in which 183 people were killed.

On Monday, defence counsels, during the proceedings, had demanded that Kasab should be brought to Pakistan to face trial with the other accused.

They had argued that Kasab’s confession, for he was the only surviving attacker, to Indian officials formed a vital part of the case built up by Pakistani authorities against their clients, he should be brought to Pakistan to face trail.

Earlier, all the seven accused had pleaded not to frame charges against them but the anti-terror court dismissed their plea.

The court has now summoned all witnesses in connection with the case on December 5, 2009.

However, defence lawyer of the accused in Pakistan, Khawaja Sultan told a news channel, “No specific charges against any of the 26/11 accused.”

“These are not ordinary charges. The only evidence that the prosecutor has against Lakhvi is Kasab’s statement. Out of 100 witnesses, no witness has named Lakhvi at all,” stated Sultan.

“The judge asked the state council whether they will get Kasab here (in Pakistan), but they said no to that,” he added.