Trial of Mumbai Terror Attack Suspect Resume in Pak

After a gap of two months, the trial of five LeT operatives accused of having a role in last year’s Mumbai terror attacks, along with its operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, has resumed at a Pakistani anti-terror court. However, it was not known if the suspects had formally been arraigned.

It may be mentioned that the trial was stopped mid way due to absence of judge in anti-terror court number 2. It began with appointment of new judge, Baqir Ali Rana, who adjourned the case till July 25 after hearing.

However, it was not immediately known whether the suspects – Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al Qama, Shahid Jamil Riaz and Hamad Amin Sadiq – had been indicted formally.

According to PTI reports, Shahbaz Rajput, the counsel for the accused, said that today’s proceedings were a “pre-trial hearing”. A new dossier on the Mumbai terror attacks handed over by Pakistan to India last week states that the LeT was responsible for the assault. It also states that Lakhvi was the mastermind of the attacks.

It may be mentioned that Interior Minister Rehman Malik said last week that the trial of the five LeT operatives could now get underway as Pakistani investigators had completed their probe.

There had been no movement in the case since May 23 as judge Sakhi Muhammad Kahut, who was earlier hearing the case, was removed as part of judicial reforms.  The Federal Investigation Agency then approached Justice Muhammad Akram Awan, the judge in anti-terror court number 1, to take up the case and he repeatedly adjourned the matter.

On May 5, the court had distributed copies of the chargesheet among the suspects. Interior Minister Malik said investigators had prepared a second and updated chargesheet that was to be handed over to the prosecutor general.

The trial of the five LeT operatives is being held inside the Adiala Jail due to security reasons.