Pak court fixes March 6 for next hearing of Mumbai trial case

SLAMABAD: A Pakistani court conducting the trial of seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with planning and facilitating the Mumbai attacks on Monday scheduled the next hearing of the case for March 6.

Sources said Monday’s hearing was a mere formality as the last hearing, scheduled for February 27, was not held as it coincided with the holiday marking Prophet Muhammad’s birth.

“The judge scheduled the next hearing for March 6,” Shahbaz Rajput, a lawyer representing some of the accused, said.

Sources said the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi also issued notices asking some prosecution witnesses to be present at the next hearing.

The trial is being conducted by judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan within the heavily guarded Adiala Jail for security reasons.

The seven accused – Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum – are being held in the same prison.

They were last year formally charged with planning and helping execute the assault on India’s financial hub in November 2008 that killed nearly 166 people.

Pak Interior Minister meets Indian envoy, discusses 26/11 probe and aftermath

Islamabad, Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday met with India;s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Sharad Sabharwal, and reportedly discussed the progress being made in the 26/11 probe..

Sources also said that there is a likelihood of Pakistan framing charges against the seven accused.

Malik is due to address a press conference later in the evening, during which he is expected to reveal the content of his discussions with Sabharwal.

Earlier, an anti-terrorism court here, which is conducting the trial of seven suspects linked with the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008, including LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, on Saturday adjourned the hearing of the case till September 26.

No other details of the proceedings were available due to a strict media blackout imposed by Judge Baqir Ali Rana, who is conducting the trial inside the high-security Adiala Jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi due to security reasons.

The hearings are being conducted in-camera and Rana has issued a gag order, citing national security concerns as well as the security of the accused and witnesses.

It is still not clear whether the seven accused have been formally indicted, though authorities have prepared two chargesheets against them.

Lawyers representing the accused said they had been directed by the judge to strictly adhere to the gag order and not to discuss the proceedings with the media.

Five LeT operatives Lakhvi, communications expert Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq and Shahid Jamil Riaz being tried by the anti-terrorism court.

They have been accused of providing training, financial support, accommodation, equipment and communications gear to the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai last year.

No details are available of the charges against the two other suspects, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum.

Meanwhile, a lawyer representing Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has said the two cases filed against his client are very weak and not sustainable in any court of law.

Saeed’s lawyer A K Dongar said the charges against his client were ridiculous. Dogar was referring to the two cases filed by Faisalabad Police – one relating to his sermon at the Royalton Hotel in Faisalabad’s Canal Road on August 27, and second for a speech at an Iftar dinner at Peoples Colony, Jaranwala Road Faisalabad on August 26, where he urged people to launch a holy war against those who’ve suppressed their rights.

“I have gone through both the FIRs against Saeed thoroughly. The charges against my client are very weak. He has expressed his views like any other Pakistani,” claimed Dogar.

According to the TIMES NOW television channel, two cases were registered against Saeed and one against his close aide Abu Jandal at police stations in Faisalabad, some 100 kilometers from Lahore.

On Friday, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Islamabad must question Saeed, notwithstanding the fact that two cases had been filed against him that were not related to that tragic event.

Chidambaram said the authorities should avail the opportunity of questioning Saeed on the 26/11 episode also, once he is arrested.

“…I am told that it’s (FIRs agaisnt Hafiz Saeed) not related to the 26/11 attacks. Even if they apprehending him on some other charge, and use the opportunity to question him on his involvement in 26/11 attacks, that would be a significant progress in the case. I hope that they question him on 26/22 too,” Chidambaram told TIMES NOW after his US visit.

Insisting that Saeed should be tried for his involvement in the 26/11 terror attack, Chidambaram said: “There is no trial there. The trial has not started there. In fact, my complaint has been even before I visited the US, that we don’t have a date set for the trial and to best of the my knowledge, the first witness has not been examined.

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna also asserted that the main agenda of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York would be to pressurise Islamabad in taking action against perpetrators of last year’s Mumbai terror attack.

Krishna said this while speaking to media persons at Turkmen capital Ashgabat during his visit to that country on Friday.

“I cannot spell out what exactly I can expect from such meetings. But this much I can assure that my attempt would be to impress upon the Pakistan foreign minister the desirability of taking action against the brains behind the Mumbai attack,” said Krishna.

The Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan and diplomats of the two nuclear-armed rivals are scheduled to meet in New York next week on the sidelines of the 64th session of the UN General Assembly. (ANI)

Pak anti-terror court seeks record of Mumbai attacks suspect

Rawalpindi, Aug.30 (ANI): The Adiala jail special anti-terrorism court has asked the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to produce record of the arrest of Jamil Ahmed, one of the Mumbai terror attacks suspects, by September 1.

Ahmed has sought post-arrest bail on various legal grounds, the Daily Times.

Earlier, the court adjourned the hearing into the trial of five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including the outfit’s operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, till September 5.

The special Adiala Jail court also restricted the in-camera trial of the five accused of the Mumbai terror attacks citing security reasons.

Though the court’s order has not been made public, sources said it stated that the proceedings would be kept totally secret and ‘not published’ in any manner as the case had implications for ‘national security’ and ‘national interests’.

The trial court also asked the FIA to submit its finding before it during the next hearing.

While Lakhvi is accused of masterminding the attack, the four others, including LeT’s communications expert Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq and Shahid Jamil Riaz are being charged as facilitators, manager of funds and for locating hideouts for the attackers Rawalpindi.

Meanwhile, the United States has asked the court to grant permission to attend the trial as ‘observers’.

A US embassy spokesman said American officials have moved an application in the court seeking permission to attend the trial.

It may be recalled that there were at least six US nationals among the 166 people who were killed in the November 26-29, 2008 terror attacks. (ANI)

Pak court adjourns 26/11 trial till September 5

Rawalpindi, Aug.29 (ANI): An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Saturday (August 29) adjourned the hearing into the trial of five Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, including the outfit’s operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, till September 5.

The special Adiala Jail court also restricted the in-camera trial of the five accused of the Mumbai terror attacks citing security reasons.

Though the court’s order has not been made public, sources said it stated that the proceedings would be kept totally secret and ‘not published’ in any manner as the case had implications for ‘national security’ and ‘national interests’.

The trial court also asked the Federal Investigation Agency to submit its finding before it during the next hearing.

During the last hearing on July 25 as well, the journalists were barred from covering the trial which is being conducted inside the prison for security reasons.

Counsel for the Federal Investigation Agency, which probed the Mumbai attacks and arrested the five Lashkar operatives, had argued that the proceedings should be conducted in-camera in view of the sensitivity of the matter. The judge accepted this.

While Lakhvi is accused of masterminding the attack, the four others, including LeT’s communications expert Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq and Shahid Jamil Riaz are being charged as facilitators, manager of funds and for locating hideouts for the attackers.’s Rawalpindi city. (ANI)

Manmohan Singh says ties with Pak not conducive for talks

Barmer (Rajasthan), Aug.29 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, said on Saturday that relations with Pakistan are currently not conducive for the two sides to have talks at any level.

Dr. Singh’s comments on the sidelines of a function here, came even as the trial of five 26/11 accused commenced in a Pakistani anti-terror court.

The court is hearing the case against five Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives, including its operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, in connection with the Mumbai attacks. etails of the hearing, which was being held in-camera at the anti-terror court no 2 in the high-security Adiala Jail in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, were hard to get as the court slapped gag orders on lawyers.

During the last hearing on July 25 as well, the journalists were barred from covering the trial which is being conducted inside the prison for security reasons.

Counsel for the Federal Investigation Agency, which probed the Mumbai attacks and arrested the five Lashkar operatives, had argued that the proceedings should be conducted in-camera in view of the sensitivity of the matter. The judge accepted this.

While Lakhvi is accused of masterminding the attack, the four others, including LeT’s communications expert Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq and Shahid Jamil Riaz are being charged as facilitators, manager of funds and for locating hideouts for the attackers.’s Rawalpindi city.

The Prime Minister’s comment also assumes significance in the wake of Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s shocking statement that India could have avoided Mumbai Terror Attack provided it shared prior intelligence information with the country.

“If only New Delhi would have given us all the prior information it had about the imminent attack, India could have avoided it altogether,” Malik said at a press conference in London earlier this week.

Asked why Pakistan didn’t act against the 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed, Malik said: “To act against Saeed, India needs to give us tangible evidence that can stand the test of Pakistan courts.

“We need to examine the evidence provided by India on the basis of which Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed.”

Responding to the Red Corner Notice issued for Saeed by the Interpol, Malik said: “We will examine it (the Red Corner Notice).

The Interior Minister further said Pakistan would never allow anyone to use its territory for terrorist activities ‘neither against India nor any other country.” (ANI)

Krishna to Pakistan: Shun go -slow policy against 26/11 perpetrators

New Delhi, Aug 26 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna on Wednesday criticised Pakistan’s go-slow policy on 26/11 perpetrators and asked Islamabad to immediately act against Lashkar-e- Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed.

On Tuesday Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Saeed, and Zaki -ur- Rehman Lakhvi who are considered the masterminds of 26/11.

The notice was issued after a Mumbai court issued non-bailable warrants against both terrorists. peaking to newsmen here Krishna said, “Interpol’s Red Corner Notice on Saeed is the vindication of what India says. The perpetrators of Mumbai attack will have to be brought to be justice. We have painstakingly collected evidence to convey the involvement of the persons.”

He termed Pakistan’s rejection of India’s fifth dossier as unfortunate.

“It is very unfortunate that the Pakistan has rejected the dossier, but at the same time Interpol has given a Red Corner notice. I think the world should take note of these developments and come to their own conclusion,” Krishna said.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that if India does not provide tangible information on the 26/11 attacks and the Samjhauta Express tragedy, Islamabad would not be responsible for any future terrorist attacks in India.

Krishna, however, added that India would continue to impress on Pakistan to act on terrorist organizations.

India had also sent proof and request for issuing Red Corner notice against Lashkar commander Zarar Shah and Abu Al Qama. Interpol said that it was analyzing the evidence against them. (ANI)

Fifth suspect in Mumbai attacks held, says Pak

Islamabad, Apr 13 (PTI) Pakistan today announced the arrest of a fifth suspect in the Mumbai attacks, who facilitated the financial transactions and planning of the audacious terror strike. Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik, while seeking more information from India on the November 26 attacks, said Pakistan has arrested Karachi-based Shahid Jamil Riaz for facilitating monetary transactions.

Lashkar-e Taiba Operations Commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and other LeT operatives Zarar Shah, Abu al Qama and Hamad Amin Sadiq are in custody of Pakistani authorities. Malik said Pakistan’s probe into the Mumbai incident is continuing and another suspect, Riaz, had been arrested for facilitating monetary transactions in Karachi and planning the attacks.

Malik, however, did not give further details about Riaz. While five of nine suspects are in custody.

He did not say when Riaz was picked up. PTI.

FIA gets two days remand of Mumbai attack suspects

Rawalpindi, Mar.18 (ANI): The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has obtained the physical remand of three Mumbai attack suspects for two more days from the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) here.

According to The Nation, the FIA had sought the remand of the accused following India’s response to Pakistan’s 30 questions over the 26/11 incident.

The FIA investigators told the court that the accused were to be interrogated in the light of answers provided by India.

Judge Sakhi M Kahot, while accepting the FIA’s plea, extended the custody of Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Mazhar Iqbal alias Abu al-Qama,and Abdul Wajid alias Zarar Shah to two more days.

The court also extended the judicial remand of another accused Hammad Amin Saddiq for 14 days.

All the accused were arrested in January this year in connection with the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 170 persons including foreigners were killed and over 200 were wounded. (ANI)

26/11 probe: FBI wants to quiz Zarar, Qama

Press Trust of India
Thursday, March 05, 2009 6:50 PM (New Delhi)

FBI wants to question two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists–Abdul Wajid alias ‘Zarar Shah’ and Mazhar Iqbal alias ‘Abu Al Qama’– in a bid to unravel the entire conspiracy in the execution of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack including whether they had any links with the Pakistan Government.

The two militants, whose real identity was ascertained following increased cooperation between central security agencies and the FBI, were believed to be the key to the entire 26/11 plot and their inputs would be vital to know if any official agency in Pakistan provided help, official sources said in Delhi.

This issue has been discussed between the FBI and sleuths of Central security agencies and the US investigating agency had also asked Pakistan to provide access to both of them, they said.

FBI has registered a case in the Mumbai terror strikes as six US citizens also fell prey in the attack, the sources said. The real identity of ‘Zarar Shah’ and ‘Abu Al Qama’ was found after both Indian intelligence agencies and FBI carried out a painstaking exercise including gathering voice samples and questioning Lashkar terrorists held within India and abroad.

Wajid alias ‘Zarar Shah’ and Iqbal alias ‘Abu Al Qama’ are residents of Pakistan’s Punjab province.

While Iqbal alias Abu Al Qama was a resident of Mandi Tehsil of Punjab, Wajid alias Zarar Shah hailed from Sheikhpura district of the same province, the sources said.

On the role of the two in Mumbai terror strikes, the sources said Iqbal alias Abu Al Qama had been responsible for training the terrorists who carried out the strikes in Mumbai on November 26 last year in which 183 people were killed.

Besides having other aliases like Amjad, Iqbal is wanted in other high-profile cases, including the Red Fort encounter, the attack on Akshardham temple in Gujarat and serial bombings on the eve of Diwali in 2005 in the national capital.

Iqbal is in-charge of Lashkar operations in India except Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said. Voice samples of Wajid, the investigators said, were taken from the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and played in front of other Lashkar operatives arrested by the Indian security agencies and the FBI.

Wajid was in constant touch with the terrorists carrying out the strikes in Mumbai through VoIP, payments for which were made on his behalf in Karchi and Barcelona by Lashkar operatives.

Ajmal Qasab, the lone arrested Lashkar terrorist in the 26/11 case, had named the two as having provided them with training and other facilities in Pakistan. However, he only knew their alias and could not identify their actual identity, the sources added.

In camera trial of Lakhvi, Zarar Shah begins at Pakistan’s Adiala jail

Rawalpindi, Mar 4 (ANI): The in-camera trial of the Mumbai attacks’ masterminds and perpetrators arrested by Pakistan has started at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Anti Terrorism Court-II (ATC-II) on Tuesday started the trial. Judge Sakhi Muhammad Kahoot is trying Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, a resident of Islamabad, Abdul Wajid alias Zarar Shah of Sheikhupura, Mazhar Iqbal alias Abu Al-Qama of Islamabad and Hammad Amin of Rahimyar Khan for aiding and abetting the Mumbai attacks.

Earlier, the court had remanded Hammad Amin in the custody of FIA for 15 days and the other three accused for 12 days, the Daily Times reported.

Representing the prosecution, Inspector Zahid Akhtar of FIA and Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Chaudhry Zulfiqar, sought an extension in the physical remand of the accused for further grilling.

The court extended the physical remand.

The same court also recorded the statements of prosecution witnesses in two separate high-profile terrorism cases and adjourned hearing till March 17.

Judge Sakhi Muhammad Kahoot is trying Maulvi Imtiaz and Muhammad Usman for their alleged involvement in an attempt to assassinate former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in a suicide bombing in Jaffar Village, Fateh Jang, on July 30, 2004 when he was about to board a car after addressing an election rally.

Separately in another terrorism case involving 12 suspects, the same court recorded the statement of a prosecution witness and adjourned hearing till March 17. (ANI)