Mumbai: The demand of defence lawyers in a Pakistani court that 26/11 terror accused Ajmal Kasab be sent to the neighbouring country to stand trial has evoked sharp reaction here with special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam saying he was amused to hear the prayer.
"I am amused. How can Kasab be sent to Pakistan to face the trial? He has committed offence in India and has to undergo the trial in an Indian court," Nikam said reacting to media reports on demand made by Pakistani defence lawyers for
Kasab`s deportation.
"Kasab has given a confession before Indian authorities as an accused and not as a witness or an approver. So how can the defence lawyers in Pakistani court cross-examine Kasab?" Nikam, who is leading the prosecution in the 26/11 trial in a Mumbai court, asked.
Moreover, Kasab`s trial has not yet concluded and so he can not be sent to Pakistan. He has to meet the logical conclusion of the trial in Mumbai itself, he said.
"Have the Pakistani lawyers ever talked about the deportation of absconding accused to India to face trial in Mumbai court? Certainly not. Then why should they demand Kasab`s deportation," asked Nikam.
However, under the provisions of Sections 188 and 189 of Pakistan CrPc, certified copies of evidence tendered by witnesses in Mumbai court can be used by prosecuting agencies of Pakistan in the trial court there, Nikam said.
Welcoming the charges framed by a Pakistani court against LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and six others for planning and helping execution of the Mumbai attacks, he said the Pakistani court had relied upon the evidence adduced by the prosecution in Mumbai.
- PTI
