Pak court fails to take up petition linked to Ajmal Kasab

M Zulqernain

Lahore, Feb 3 (PTI) A petition filed by Pakistaniprosecutors to declare lone surviving Mumbai attacker AjmalKasab and another terror suspect as fugitives could not betaken up today as a judge on the bench had not been granted anextension of tenure.

The petition filed by the Federal Investigation Agency(FIA) to declare Kasab and Fahim Ansari as "proclaimedoffenders" was to be taken up by the Rawalpindi-based bench ofthe Lahore High Court.

However, one of the judges of the division bench �Justice Mamoon Rashid � was not given an extension of tenureduring a recent review by Supreme Court Chief Justice IftikharChaudhry, officials said.

Government prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar told PTI thata new bench will be notified to take up the FIA�s petition anda date will be set to hear the matter.

The High Court had admitted the FIA�s petition lastmonth.

The petition asks the court to declare Kasab andAnsari as fugitives, to issue non-bailable warrants for themand to de-link their case from that of seven Pakistanisuspects being tried by an anti-terrorism court for planningand facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Kasab has already been sentenced to death by a specialcourt in Mumbai for his role in the attacks that killed 166people.

Ansari was acquitted by the same court but continuesto be in custody for other cases.

The FIA contended in its petition that the duo shouldbe declared proclaimed offenders as they are in the custody ofIndian authorities and could not be brought to Pakistan. PTIMZ RHL