Lahore/New Delhi: In a significant development in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, an anti-terrorism court of Pakistan has ruled that commander of operations of the Lashkar-e-Toiba Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and six others accused in the 2008 attack case will individually be charged for the abetment to murder of each of the 166 people who died in the carnage.
"The seven suspects will be charged individually for the abetment to murder of each victim of Mumbai attack case," a senior court official said, quoting the verdict of the trial court.
The official told PTI that the court, however, did not allow cross examination of the suspects in this regard.
The development follows the prosecution’s request before the Islamabad court around two months ago to make amendment in the charges against the suspects in abetment to murder of each individual in the carnage.
The trial court in March last had reserved the verdict after the prosecution and defence lawyers completed their arguments on the plea for amendment in the charges against all seven suspects in abetment to murder of each individual in the Mumbai attack.
166 people, including six Americans, were killed and more than 300 injured in the attack in November 2008 by 10 Pakistani terrorists.
The prosecution was of the view that it was seeking amendment to the changes "for further strengthening the case against the suspects".
It had also pleaded for including the post-mortem reports of those killed in the attack. The prosecution said India should be asked to send the post-mortem reports of each victim of Mumbai attack while the defence lawyers opposed it.
The Mumbai attack case has faced inordinate delay as no proceedings were held for the previous seven consecutive hearings. The next hearing of the case is scheduled for May 25.
The Pakistani authorities are blaming India for the delay in the case, saying it cannot move further till the Indian government sends witnesses to Pakistan for recording statements in the case.
"The seven consecutive hearings of the case were adjourned without any proceedings because the Pakistani government is still awaiting its counterpart's response about sending (Indian) witnesses to Pakistan for recording statements in the case," the court official said.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry had written to the Indian government about three months ago asking it to send all 24 Indian witnesses to Pakistan for recording statements in the trial court in Mumbai attacks case.
(With PTI inputs)
