Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terror court conducting the trial of seven suspects, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, for alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks on Saturday adjourned the matter for a week even as defence lawyers boycotted the proceedings.
The lawyers boycotted the proceedings apparently to protest Judge Baqir Ali Rana`s decision to formally charge the suspects in their absence at the last hearing on October 10, sources told a news agency.
There was no official word on the proceedings due to a
gag order issued by the court. The judge scheduled the next
hearing for October 24.
Sources quoted the lawyers as saying that the
indictment of the suspects was "one-sided" and an act of
"injustice".
The accused have also refused to sign the papers
related to their indictment in the absence of their lawyers,
the sources said.
Khwaja Sultan, one of the four defence lawyers, had
last week raised objections about the manner in which the
suspects were indicted. Sultan told reporters that none of the
lawyers were present in court at the time of the indictment.
The last hearing was held at the time that a group of
terrorists attacked the Pakistan Army`s headquarters in
Rawalpindi. The judge then reportedly said that since the
situation outside the court was uncertain, those who wanted to
leave the premises could do so.
The lawyers left the court after completing their
arguments and learnt later that their clients had been
indicted, Sultan said.
At the last hearing, the defence lawyers contended
there was no proof against their clients while the prosecution
said it had enough evidence to prosecute the suspects,
including five members of the LeT.
The trial is being conducted at Adiala Jail due to
security concerns and the media has been barred from attending
the proceedings.
The seven suspects – Lakhvi, communications expert
Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz,
Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum – have been booked under the
Anti-Terrorism Act.
They have been accused of training and providing
financial support, accommodation, equipment and communications
gear to the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai in November last
year.
Bureau Report
