A Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the 2008 Mumbai attack trial on Tuesday adjourned proceedings for a fortnight after the defence lawyers of seven suspects in the carnage failed to appear before the judge.
Khwaja Sultan, the counsel for Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the main accused in the Mumbai attacks case, informed anti-terrorism court judge Shahid Rafique that defence lawyers would go to India as part of the judicial commission.
A Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trail of seven men charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks on Tuesday adjourned proceedings till January 28 after the main accused, Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, sought time to appoint a new lawyer.
Lawyers defending seven suspects, including Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, accused of involvement in the Mumbai attacks are causing "unnecessary hindrances" in their trial by filing petitions in court, a Pakistani prosecutor has said.
While disposing of the application, Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif directed the federal and Punjab governments to ensure that foolproof security is provided to Lakhvi and his counsel Khwaja Sultan.
Lakhvi's lawyer Khwaja Sultan, who has been accused by the prosecution of filing numerous petitions to delay the trial, told PTI that his client would not approach the Lahore High Court for bail.
Lawyers defending Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others charged with involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks have said that none of them will go to India as part of a proposed commission to record the testimony of key witnesses, including surviving attacker Ajmal Kasab.
In his application filed last week, Lakhvi had claimed that there was a purported threat to his life as a number of agents of the Indian spy agency Research and Analyses Wing were present in Rawalpindi. He asked for his trial to be transferred from an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi to Lahore.
Pakistan's Supreme Court adjourned for two weeks the hearing of Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi's petition seeking his acquittal in a case related to the Mumbai attacks in order to study Ajmal Kasab's confessional statement.
Lawyers representing seven Pakistani suspects currently being tried by an anti-terror court for alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks have claimed that their lives are in danger and no security is being provided to them despite a court order in this regard.
Lashkar-e-Tayiba operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of seven suspects facing trial in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks, filed an application , on Wednesday, seeking the transfer of his case from Rawalpindi to Lahore due to a purported threat to his life.
The indictment of Lashkar-e-Tayiba leader Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other suspects by a Pakistani anti-terror court for planning and helping execute the Mumbai attacks will be challenged in the Lahore high court, as authorities have no solid evidence against them, the militant commander's lawyer said on Sunday.