`Karachi handlers called attackers in Mumbai`

A Pak court conducting the trial of Mumbai attack case was told by a witness that handlers from Karachi had made calls to the terrorists.

Lahore: A Pakistani court conducting the trial of seven suspects in the Mumbai attack case was on Saturday told by a prosecution witness that "handlers from Karachi" had made calls giving directions to the terrorists who had launched the 26/11 strike.

Forensic expert Nauman Ashraf Bodla, appearing as the prosecution witness of the Federal Investigation Agency, told the court that the handlers called from three numbers and gave directions to the Mumbai attackers during the siege.

He, however, said the three numbers had been used for the purpose and had been issued on a fake identity in the name of Kharak Singh.

Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulifqar said that Bodla had submitted a seven-page report to the court, informing it about the handlers giving direction to the attackers in Mumbai.

He said the defence also completed its arguments. Defence counsel Khawaja Sultan Ahmed on his part argued that the `handlers` Bodla had talked about had nothing to do with the accused. The witness did not know the identity of the callers so what had they to do with his clients, he argued.

After the hearing, Khawaja Sultan said that the court was also informed that three Indians, including two women, had made calls to people in Karachi, PoK and Nepal during the attacks in Mumbai. The hearing was adjourned till September 10.

However, the court is soon expected to announce its decision on the application of the prosecution to constitute a commission to send to India.

PTI