Court asks Pathan to make written submission

Mumbai, Feb 27 (UNI) A designated TADA court here today directed the 1993 serial blasts convict Ijaz Pathan, deported from Dubai two years ago, to make a written submission and not oral statements, before the court decides the quantum of punishment to be awarded to him in the blasts case, which rocked the metropolis on March 12.

TADA court Judge P D Kode gave the direction following which Pathan, who is at present admitted to the government-run J J Hospital, moved an application, expressing his desire to appear before the court to deliver the statement which is mandatory under the law before the court awards any punishment to a convict.

Defence counsel Abbass Kazmi told the court that Pathan, suffering from various ailments, wishes to make an oral statement before the court.

The court, however, turned down the request after perusing the medical reports of Pathan and directed that at this stage, it did not require him to make an oral submission. His written submission would be accepted by the court and the same would be considered as the statement recorded by the court.

Pathan, who was deported from Dubai in 2005, was convicted for participating in the conspiratorial meeting in Dubai. He is also charged with making travel arrangements of various blast convicts, who went to Pakistan via Dubai for receiving training in handling of deadly arms and ammunition.

The court has recorded the statement of all the 1993 blast convicts, except Pathan, whose statement was not recorded due to his ill health.

The court, while giving directions to make a written submission, adjourned the hearing till March 1.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Judge Kode also asked the Superintendent of Aruthur Road Jail to appear before the court on March 1 in response to a complaint made by several convicts, claiming that despite the court directive, they were not sent to the J J Hospital for medical treatment due to non-availability of escort party.

UNI