India has made a freshdemand in areply to Pakistan's request to send 24 Indian witnesses to record their statements in the case, an interior ministry official told PTI today.
"We have received a reply from Indian government in response to our letter regarding sending 24 Indian witnesses to Pakistan to record their statements in the Mumbai terror attack case.
"But instead ofentertaining our request India has sought re-investigation of the case and alsodemandedtrialof Jammat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiba operation commanderZakiur Rehman Lakhvi in the light of evidence it had provided to Pakistan," the official said.
Saeed, who carries a reward of USD 10 million, was also put under house arrest after Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008 but he was freed by court in 2009.
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The official said Indian witnesses statement are needed toconclude the case which has been pending for the lastseven years.
He said Pakistan has no issue to try any suspect of Mumbai case provided it has evidence against him.
"If India provides some strong evidence against Hafiz Saeed in Mumbai case we will try him," he said, adding that Lakhvi was tooreleased on bail because of lack of solid evidence against him.
Meanwhile, no hearing in the Mumbai case was held today.
This was 17th consecutive hearing of the case in which no progress has been made primarily because the anti-terrorism court was awaiting reply from India regarding sending of 24 Indian witnesses to record their statements.
The trial court has already completed recording of the statements of all witnesses here and their cross examination and other relevant record has also been presented before it.
Mumbai attack mastermind Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum have been facing charges of abetment to murder, attempted murder, planning and executing the attack.
Lakhvi got his freedom some 22 months ago after he secured bail in the case. He has been living in undisclosed location since then.
The other six suspects are in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
Ten LeT militants killed 166 people and wounded dozens in Mumbai in November, 2008. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was caught.