Ansari's counsel wants to charge Gen Kayani

The 26/11 trial is expected to take an interesting turn with the counsel for Fahim Ansari contemplating the inclusion of Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's name as the main conspirator.

Ejaz Naqvi, Ansari's advocate, told rediff.com that the statements of the accused, including Sabahuddin Ahmed, suggest that Kayani ordered the survey of likely targets in Mumbai. Hence, Naqvi argued, the general -- director of the Inter Services Intelligence directorate before taking up his current assignment -- should be included as one of the main conspirators.

Sabahuddin Ahmed, in his confession, stated that he had met a man named Colonel Kayani in 2002. According to Naqvi, the Pakistan army officer Sabahuddin was speaking of is General Kayani.

Naqvi claimed Kayani ordered Sabauddin to conduct a survey of likely targets in Mumbai; a job later assigned to Ansari.

If both Sabahuddin and Ansari could be charged for identifying the targets, then Kayani should be named a conspirator since he ordered these two men, Naqvi contended.

The lawyer added that Kayani's inclusion in the case would indicate that Ahmed and Ansari are small fry and were acting on behalf of the Pakistani miilary leadership.