26/11 case: Pak court adjourns trial for two weeks

A Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other suspects linked to the Mumbai attacks today adjourned the proceedings for two weeks after the prosecution sought time to appoint a new prosecutor.

Special Public Prosecutor Malik Rab Nawaz Noon, who was heading the prosecution team, recently died of a heart attack.

Public Prosecutor Zulfiqar Ahmed appeared in the anti-terrorism court of Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan and asked for time so that the government could appoint a replacement for Noon.

Defence lawyers Shahbaz Rajput and Khwaja Sultan told PTI that the judge adjourned the trial of the seven suspects till June 26.

"There were no other proceedings today," Rajput said.

He said today's proceedings were also affected by some "security concerns."

The proceedings were conducted in the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi instead of a makeshift courtroom within the prison.

Sources said security in Adiala Jail had been tightened after two men were recently arrested while trying to supply weapons to prisoners.

It could not immediately be ascertained whom the two men had tried to provide weapons to.

Lakhvi and the other suspects have been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Pakistan Penal Code and a cyber crimes law for planning and facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.

The trial has been mired in controversy and numerous delays since last year.

Sources said the federal Law Ministry had recommended that a deputy attorney general should be appointed to head the prosecution team as part of efforts to speed up the trial.