The trial of LeT’s Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other suspects in Mumbai attacks and Pakistan’s proposal to form a commission that would visit India to record testimony of two key witnesses figured prominently in the telephonic talks Interior Minister Rehman Malik had with his Indian counterpart P. Chidambaram.
“We discussed security issues and the ongoing trial here in Pakistan, of those accused in the Mumbai blast,” Mr. Malik wrote on Twitter, a social networking website.
During their conversation yesterday, the Pakistani minister proposed that a Commission may be formed to visit India to record the testimony of two key Indian witnesses for taking forward the trial of the seven Pakistani suspects.
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“I also proposed that a Commission may be formed to visit India and record the statements of the witnesses... I explained to Mr. Chidambaram that the appearance of two main Indian witnesses in Pakistani Court is most important for trial process to continue here,” he tweeted.
Mr. Malik, who has over 5,000 followers on Twitter, also “appreciated” the sympathy and condolences extended by Mr. Chidambaram on the loss of lives and property due to the devastating floods in Pakistan.
The Pakistani Interior Minister, who held talks with Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal here yesterday, had earlier told reporters that the trial of Lakhvi and six other suspects was “stuck” over the issue of Indian witnesses testifying via video-conferencing as this was not allowed under Pakistani laws.
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He had said that Mr. Chidambaram told him that the Pakistani proposal about formation of a commission would be “examined” when it is received.
Though India proposed that the testimony of the two witnesses - the magistrate who recorded the confessional statement of lone surviving Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab and the police officer who investigated the incident - should be recorded via video conferencing, Mr. Malik said this was not permitted by Pakistani laws.