A Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of seven suspects linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks has adjourned the proceedings till May 8.
The Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court, which is conducting the trial of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other suspects, has adjourned its proceedings till May 8.
The last hearing of the case, scheduled for April 17, was not held as Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan, who is conducting the trial, was on leave.
Sources told PTI that the court’s decision to put off the hearing till May 8 appeared to have been influenced by the fact that a special court in Mumbai is scheduled to deliver its verdict against Ajmal Kasab and two Indians for their role in the Mumbai attacks on May 3.
However, Lakhvi’s counsel Khwaja Sultan questioned the anti-terrorism court’s decision to adjourn the trial till May 8.
“Why put off proceedings for three weeks?” he asked.
“These are delaying tactics and perhaps people here are awaiting the outcome of Kasab’s trial in India,” he added.
