Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Wednesday formally charged seven suspects, including Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, with planning and helping execute the Mumbai attacks, an action that came a day before the first anniversary of the brazen assault.
The court also declared 16 people, including Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist, as "proclaimed offenders". The crew members of the two boats that ferried the 10 attackers to Mumbai are among them, sources said.
Anti-terrorism court Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan, who is conducting the trial at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for security reasons, framed the chargesheet against Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum.
The court also rejected the bail pleas of some of the accused. The suspects protested as charges against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Pakistan Penal Code were read out, sources said.
All seven pleaded not guilty, their lawyers said.
The chargesheets came after an agonising spell of delays with India accusing Pakistan of not being serious in bringing to book the perpetrators of the 26/11 attacks.
Shahbaz Rajput, one of the defence lawyers, told PTI that the accused had pleaded not guilty as the charges against them were not backed up by evidence.
Lakhvi and the six other suspects were charged with providing accommodation and training facilities to the attackers as they prepared for the assault, the sources said.
The seven accused had earlier appealed to the court not to frame charges against them but the anti-terror court in Pakistan has rejected that plea.
The court has now summoned all witnesses in connection with the case on December 5, 2009.
DEFENCE LAWYER TO CNN-IBN
Meanwhile, defence lawyer of the accused in Pakistan, Khawaja Sultan told CNN-IBN, "No specific charges against any of the 26/11 accused."
"These are not ordinary charges. The only evidence that the prosecutor has against Lakhvi is Kasab's statement. Out of 100 witnesses, no witness has named Lakhvi at all," stated Sultan.
"The judge asked the state council whether they will get Kasab here (in Pakistan), but they said no to that," he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
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