Pak court adjourns trial in Mumbai attack case

Islamabad, Oct 23: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of seven suspects charged with involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks today adjourned the case for a week as a higher court is yet to decide on key accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi's petition against the judge.

Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Lakhvi recently filed a petition in the High Court asking that the case against him in the anti-terrorism court should be transferred from Rawalpindi to Lahore. Lakhvi said he had no confidence in the anti-terrorism court's judge, whom he claimed was being influenced by the government.

Anti-terrorism court Judge Shahid Rafique adjourned the case till October 29 without any proceedings as the Lahore High Court had reserved its verdict on Lakhvi's petition.

The prosecution too has filed an application in the Lahore High Court seeking the dismissal of Lakhvi's petition.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Chaudhry reserved his verdict on October 17 after hearing arguments by Lakhvi's counsel and prosecution lawyers.

It is not known when the High Court will give its ruling on the matter. The prosecution has accused lawyers defending the seven accused of resorting to delaying tactics.

It has asked the anti-terrorism court to hear the case on a day-to-day basis.

There have been no proceedings in the anti-terrorism court for the past few weeks as defence lawyers have filed several petitions that the prosecution says are aimed at delaying the trial.

PTI