Mumbai attack trial ’stuck’, admits Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Saturday admitted that the trial in the Mumbai attacks case was stuck and said the formation of a commission to record the testimony of two key Indian witnesses is “necessary to take things forward”.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Pakistan wants progress on the 26/11 case and would extend every possible cooperation to India in this regard, Online news agency reported.

Talking to media after meeting with Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal Saturday morning, Malik said the formation of a commission to record the testimony of two key Indian witnesses is necessary to take things forward.

He contended that the trial of the suspects has run into problems over the issue of Indian witnesses testifying via video-conferencing as this is not allowed under Pakistani laws.

He said he had discussed the formation of the commission comprising “relevant officials” — which would visit India to record the statements of a magistrate and a police officer — during a recent telephone conversation with his Indian counterpart P. Chidambaram.

Chidambaram had told him that the Pakistani proposal would be “examined” when it is received, Malik said.

The Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trial is yet to decide on India’s proposal that the witnesses should testify via video-conferencing “and the trial is stuck,” he said.

“We want this trial to go ahead. That’s why I have proposed to India, while talking to Chidambaram, that how about if we move our case to our trial court and request them to appoint a commission?” he said.

Prosecutors will approach the trial court Monday with a petition on forming the commission, Malik said.

Though such video-conferencing is not allowed under domestic laws, prosecutors have made a special request to the trial court to allow Indian witnesses to testify over a video link, he said.

At least 166 people were killed in the terror attacks on Mumbai which happened 26 Nov. 2008.

Malik said he and Chidambaram had discussed “matters related to security issues and certain aspects of the ongoing trial of the Mumbai blast accused in Pakistan” during their telephone conversation. He did not say when he had spoken to Chidambaram.

He also said authorities in Islamabad expected to receive India’s response to Pakistan’s latest dossier on the Mumbai attacks early next week.

In response to a question on the aid offered by India for victims of Pakistan’s devastating floods, Malik said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had done the right thing by accepting the assistance.

“If they (India) have made a good gesture, we should not refuse it. The Prime Minister of Pakistan has taken a very right decision by accepting it,” he said.

To a question, he said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Al Qaeda and Taliban have united to spread terrorism in the country.