Federal government has decided to get special remand of the accused of the Mumbai terrorist attacks from Special Anti-Terrorist Court (ATC) to lead the investigation towards right direction. The trial court, ATC 2 of Sakhi Muhammad Kahut had already given 12 days and 15 days remand of the accused to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in two hearings in Adiala Central Jail Rawalpindi.
Court cannot give physical remand of accused for more than 30 days under law, but in a special case, government can demand special remand of the accused and government has decided to make plea of special remand in next hearing to be held in Adiala Jail two days later.
The main problem of completion of the charge sheet from prosecution was unwarranted delay by India in providing reply of 30 questions raised by three-member investigation team of FIA, well-placed sources told this scribe. India provided the reply of the questions which include DNA samples, audio recordings, pictures of the terrorists who executed November 26, 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and some more solid evidences, they said.
FIA investigation team inquired from Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, mastermind of Mumbai attack about the audio recordings, pictures and other material India has provided, sources said. They said that the FIA has formed a three-member special team to review, what they said some solid evidences India has provided. The team was asked to submit a report regarding this issue in one week.
They also said that the DNA samples of the terrorists involved in Mumbai terror attack were sent to Forensic Laboratory. It is pertinent to note here that the prosecution has presented Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Mazhar Iqbal alias Abul Qamar and Abdul Wajid alias Zarar Shah in ATC, claiming that they were arrested on February 18 from Swan bus stand for their alleged involvement in Mumbai terrorist attack.
They are allegedly involved in planning and facilitating the November 26, Mumbai attacks and are nominated in the FIR registered in Special Investigation Unit of FIA. One of the key players of Mumbai terrorist attacks is already on 14 days physical remand in custody of FIA. Hammad Amin Sadiq, was declared as the principal financier and planner stated by Rehman Malik, Advisor on Interior in his press conference.
Pakistan Government lodged an FIR No 01-2009 (the first FIR of the year in FIA Special Investigation Unit), against eight suspected terrorists on the basis of inquiry conducted by the Pakistani investigation team. The FIR was lodged under sections 302, 109 and 34 of Pakistan Panel Code, sections 21, I-88, 7, 11, 21-C of Anti-Terrorist Act and sections 11, 17 and 19 of Cyber-Crimes Ordinance (CCO).