Pakistan resumes trial against 26/11 attackers

However, Pakistan has said that the proof given by India against LeT founder, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, is inadequate. So, he cannot be arrested
Hardnews Bureau

A Pakistani anti-terror court resumed the trial of five LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) operatives who allegedly planned the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. They are charged with planning and executing the Mumbai attacks that killed over 180 people.

The trial is being held at an anti terror court under high security at a jail in Rawalpindi. Though the case is being held in camera, details are hard to get as the court has placed gag orders on lawyers.

While LeT's operations chief, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, is accused of masterminding the attack, four others including LeT's communications expert, Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq and Shahid Jamil Riaz are being charged as facilitators, manager of funds and for locating hideouts for the attackers. However, Pakistan has said that the proof given by India against Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, the founder of the LeT, is inadequate. Hence, he cannot be arrested.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who is on a three-day visit to London, said during a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London that Pakistan was "seriously focusing" on the case against conspirators of the Mumbai attacks. But Zardari said that he wanted Pakistan's bilateral ties with India to improve and the composite dialogue to run parallel to the investigations.

India's stand is that peace talks can be resumed once Pakistan brings perpetrators of the 26/11 attack to justice and dismantles its terror infrastructure.