Pakistani judicial commission leaves for India

/Lahore, Sept 21: A Pakistani judicial commission on Saturday left for India to cross-examine key witnesses in the

case to take forward the prosecution of seven suspects, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.

The eight-member commission crossed into India via the Wagah land border. Speaking to reporters before their departure, Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhury Mohammed Azhar said, "We will cross-examine the witnesses and will file our report before the court here after coming back."

The commission had sought visas for four to five days, and the Indian High Commission here issued them seven-day visas valid for Mumbai, Delhi, Agra and Amristar. The panel's second visit to India has been delayed thrice this month. It was earlier scheduled to leave for India on September 11 but the trip was postponed because of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

Team to cross-examine the witnesses and file a report on Mumbai attacks

India initially asked the commission to visit in early September but it could not leave due to the cancellation of a Pakistan International Airlines flight. The next date fixed was September 7, but the visit was again cancelled due to the non-availability of a flight.

The new date fixed after this was September 11 but India informed the Pakistani side that courts in Mumbai would be closed for Ganesh Chaturthi. The visit to India to cross-examine witnesses is being undertaken to take forward the prosecution of seven suspects, including Lakhvi, who have been charged with planning, financing and executing the attacks that killed 166 people in November 2008.

PTI