Here’s some depressing news for those filled with agony at the memory of 26/11. The trial of LeT operational commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, whom India considers the mastermind of Mumbai, is progressing at a snail’s pace.
It was Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving 26/11 assailant, who had first named Lakhvi as his trainer. The case against him was bolstered by the fbi providing Pakistan with a taped conversation between Lakhvi and the terrorists during the mayhem in Mumbai. Then, on December 2, ’08, India officially named Lakhvi as one of the four masterminds of 26/11.
| Under trial: Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi |
On December 7, the Pakistani security forces raided the Lashkar’s Muzaffarabad headquarters, nabbing Lakhvi and others including Zarar Shah, Hammad Amin Sadiq, Abu Qama, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum. Pakistan turned down India’s demand for their extradition, saying they would be tried on Pakistani soil as they were all Pakistani citizens.
On May 5, ’09, the Federal Investigation Agency submitted the challan or chargesheet along with evidence against the seven LeT suspects to judge Sakhi Mohammad Kahut. But, on May 23, ’09, when the court was expected to indict them formally, Justice Kahut’s tenure expired. In his place was appointed Justice Baqir Ali Rana, who, on October 21, ’09, expressed his inability to continue with the proceedings. Those close to him claim Justice Rana quit because the lawyers representing the accused boycotted court proceedings in protest against his decision to formally charge the seven suspects in their absence. It’s also said the judge had received threats for charging the accused. On October 24, he was replaced by Justice Malik Akram Awan, who began to hear the case from October 31. He directed the prosecution to provide Kasab’s confessional statement and other documentary evidence against the accused. The hearing was adjourned to November 21, amid growing apprehension that Mumbai will have to wait for a long time for justice to be served.
