An anti-terrorism court on Wednesday dismissed a plea to conduct the trial of seven accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case through the video-link and asked the authorities to ensure security for the witnesses and others. The Anti-Terrorism Court judge of Islamabad, Kausar Abbas Zaidi, dismissed the prosecution's plea to allow witnesses to submit their recorded statements in the court because of security reasons.
"The court dismissed the prosecution's plea and ordered that the case hearing will continue at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and security be ensured for the witnesses and others," the Press Trust of India reported. Earlier, before his transfer, Judge Attiquer Rehman had stopped holding the trial at Adiala Jail following "poor security arrangements" a few months ago.
"Owing to the security issues we request the court hold the trial through a video-link for their and witnesses security," the prosecution lawyers pleaded. The defence lawyers had argued against the prosecution's plea saying: "This is a sensitive and in-camera trial. The court proceedings will be accessible to many if it is allowed to be held through a video-link. How can the court trust witnesses' statements in a CD form"?
"It can easily be tampered with and in no way will be admissible in the court. Therefore, the court should reject the prosecution's plea," they said. Two witnesses - one from the Federal Investigation Agency and other from the Foreign Ministry - also appeared in the court. The Foreign Ministry official told the court about receiving the transcript of Ajmal Kasab statement from India and its submission to the FIA. The FIA official confirmed the receiving of the transcript.
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