A anti-terrorism court on Saturday reserved its verdict on a petition filed by six persons arrested in Pakistan in connection with Mumbai attacks. The petitioners had prayed that their trial be separated from that of Ajmal Kasab and Faheem Arshad Ansari, the co-accused in 26/11 attacks, as the former had already been convicted by an Indian court. After hearing arguments by prosecution and defense lawyers, the ATC judge Rana Nisar Ahmed Khan reserved his verdict on the petition and adjourned hearing of the case till May 3, 2011.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) prosecutors Chaudhry Zulfiqar and Chaudhry Azher argued that Ajmal Kasab and Faheem Ansari could take advantage of the petition only after appearing before the court, whereas the other suspects arrested in connection with Mumbai attacks could not take any benefit. However, defense lawyers Khawaja Sultan and Shehbaz Rajpoot argued that as an Indian court had already convicted Ajmal Kasab, his trial could not be conducted with other suspects arrested in Pakistan. They further argued that proceedings of the case had been continuing for the past 26 months even in Kasab’s absence. They requested the court to give its verdict on separate trial of those arrested in Pakistan from that of Ajmal Kasab and Faheem Arshad Ansari.
