Mumbai attacks case in Pak has 'no leg to stand on' even after 5 years

Image
ANI Islamabad
Last Updated : Nov 25 2013 | 11:40 AM IST

The Mumbai attacks lawsuit in Pakistan still has "no leg to stand on" even after five years of the incident as India and Pakistan continues the blame game, accusing each other of 'not doing enough'.

According to the Express Tribune, the case has made little headway despite the arrest and denunciation of the alleged commander of banned outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, along with six others in Pakistan in 2008.

The allegations of masterminding, financing and facilitating the November 26, 2008 attacks in India's financial capital, which killed 166 people still lack the evidences, the report added.

A former member of the defence team, Advocate Riaz Akram Cheema, said that Lakhvi and the others were framed on the basis of the confessionary statement by Ajmal Kasab.

Kasab was the only gunman arrested, tried and hanged in India for waging war, terrorism and murder.

Cheema said that Kasab's statement could never be cross-examined as New Delhi refused to allow the defence counsel to question him. Hence, it cannot be treated as evidence under Pakistani law.

Cheema also questioned the acceptability of Kasab's statement, which was recorded 82 days after his arrest.

The defence panel, meanwhile, blames the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for failing to provide a complete list of witnesses with recorded statements for cross-examination despite the court's directions.

Meanwhile, FIA special prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar attributed the delays to the change of judges and the death of his colleague Chaudhry Zulfiqar.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 25 2013 | 11:09 AM IST

Next Story