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Mumbai attacks: Pak seeks Kasab custody

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Rezaul H Laskar PTI Islamabad

Identifying Ajmal Amir Kasab as the "prime suspect" in the Mumbai terror attacks, Pakistan has formally requested India to hand over the lone gunman captured alive during the terror strikes to facilitate "successful" prosecution of other accused arrested in this country.

"The government of Pakistan has formally requested the Indian government to hand over the custody of Ajmal Kasab because he is the prime suspect and the rest of these suspects, they are abettors, they abetted the crime," Deputy Attorney General Sardar Mohammad Ghazi said.

Ghazi, who has been appointed the Special Public Prosecutor for the trial of Pakistani suspects linked to the Mumbai attacks, said it would be difficult to prosecute the other accused if Kasab is not handed over to Pakistan.

 

"I am sure the Indian government is going to look into it, they are going to take a decision because without having the custody of Ajmal Kasab in Pakistan, I think it will be very, very difficult to prosecute the rest of the suspects," he told Dawn News channel.

Ghazi said he hoped to work in cooperation with Indian authorities to prosecute the persons arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of links to the November 26 Mumbai attacks. "I am sure better sense (will prevail) and we get the custody of Ajmal Kasab and we are able to conduct the trial successfully," he said.

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First Published: Feb 18 2009 | 5:41 PM IST

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