Charges framed against Mumbai attack suspects

On the eve of the first anniversary of the Mumbai attacks, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court today formally charged seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, with planning and helping execute the assault on India's financial hub.

Anti-terrorism court Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan, who is conducting the trial at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for security reasons, framed the chargesheet against Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum.

The court also rejected bail pleas of some of the accused. The suspects protested as charges against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Pakistan Penal Code were read out, sources said.

All seven pleaded not guilty, their lawyers said. Shahbaz Rajput, one of the defence lawyers, said the accused had pleaded not guilty as “the charges against them were not backed up by evidence”.The court declared 16 people, including crew members of two boats that ferried the 10 attackers to Mumbai, as “proclaimed offenders”.

It also separated the case of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone attacker captured by Indian authorities, from the other accused.