Pak court issues notices in 26/11 case

An Anti Terrorist Court in Rawalpindi has issued notifications to all concerned parties in the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack case in order to start arguments on petitions filed by the seven men accused of lending logistical support to the 26/11 attackers.

The arrested men include Lashkar-e-Tayiba's operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid alias Abul Qama and Mazhar Iqbal alias Zarar Shah. The court has set May 22, as the next hearing, which is being held in-camera at the Adiala Jail. During the hearing on Saturday, prosecution lawyers Rab Nawaz Noon and Chaudhry Zulfiqar told the court that that negotiations are

under way with Indian authorities for handing over Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the Mumbai carnage.

At this, Special Judge Malik Akram Awan questioned the need for Ajmal's extradition when he already has been held guilty and awarded death penalty in the case. Defence lawyers representing Lakhvi and seven others blamed the prosecution of implicating the case and applying delaying tactics and urged the court to continue the proceedings. The seven men arrested in the case have been accused of providing training, financial support, accommodation, equipment and communications gear to the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008.