Pakistani-Canadian terror suspect Tahawwur Rana under investigation for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has stuck to his ‘not guilty’ plea to terror charges and is headed for trial, will appear before a U.S. court here on May 11 for a status hearing in the case.
Patrick Blegen, lawyer for the 48 year-old city businessman, told PTI that “during the status hearing, the judge is going to rule on some pre-trial motions”.
Mr. Blegen reiterated that there will not be any change in Rana’s not guilty plea, which he had entered in the U.S. District court in January.
He however did not comment on when he expects the trial in the case to start.
Rana’s May 11 status hearing is scheduled before U.S. Judge Harry Leinenweber.
Days after co-accused LeT operative David Coleman Headley had pleaded guilty in March to plotting the Mumbai terror attacks, Mr. Blegen had said his client would not be changing his not guilty plea and go ahead for a trial, which he hoped would start “sooner rather than later”.
Mr. Blegen had said he feels he still has a “strong case”.
Rana’s trial process is expected to start only after September, till when federal prosecutors would work on what evidence gathered against him can be used at trial.
Chicago’s top federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who is personally handling the case, had told the court he hopes to declassify evidence gathered in the terror investigation in the next few months.
Mr. Blegen and prosecutors agreed on a six-month schedule — April 5, June 1, July 1, August 2, September 13 — for carrying out provisions of the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA), which allows prosecutors to take extraordinary measures to prevent classified information from leaking to the public.
According to the calendar in the case, the government will provide classified discovery by June 1 and Judge Leinenweber has set a date of September 20 for a hearing to determine what classified information can be admitted as evidence at trial.
Rana has filed several pre-trial motions asking the government to provide him “specific” details of the kind of “material support” he is charged with providing to terror acts in Mumbai and Denmark, citing the need to be better prepared for trial.
Mr. Blegen said given the “complexity of the case”, his client should be entitled to know “with specificity what material support he is alleged to have provided” to terrorism since the “superseding indictment is not a clear appraisal of the allegations” against Rana.
The lawyer said the indictment keeps the allegations “vague” and prevents him from properly preparing a defence.
The government has objected to Rana’s demand for “specific” details, saying the superseding indictment provides more details than required and that the prosecution too continues to provide extensive discovery.
Federal prosecutors added the government has already provided “more than sufficient” information in the form of over 20,000 documents for him to prepare his defence for his trial.
Showing posts with label Mumbai terror attacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mumbai terror attacks. Show all posts
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Pakistan will examine providing help to Kasab if sought
Pakistan will examine the issue of providing assistance to Ajmal Kasab, convicted for involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks, only if he seeks such aid, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Monday.
Mr. Malik told reporters outside parliament that the Pakistan government will react to the conviction of Kasab only after the detailed judgment is made public.
He made the remarks hours after a special court in Mumbai found Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the attacks, guilty of murder and waging war against India.
Kasab was convicted on most of the 86 charges against him and faces the death penalty.
Asked by reporters if the Pakistan government will provide aid to Kasab, Mr. Malik said authorities would act within the provisions of law.
“If someone wants or applies (for assistance), we will examine it. If he doesn’t apply, then we will not examine it,” he said.
“Help is given to those who ask for it. If you ask (me), a terrorist is a terrorist,” Mr. Malik added.
Referring to the trial of seven suspects arrested by Pakistani authorities for alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks, Mr. Malik said the First Information Report against these persons was filed on the basis of Kasab’s statement.
“Our court will want that the person who recorded Kasab’s statement should come (to Pakistan) to testify,” he said.
The Pakistan government recently sought formal access to Kasab to facilitate the trial of the seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Mr. Malik also there was credible information about the death of Hakimullah Mehsud, the chief of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
However, the government cannot conduct a DNA test to prove the death of Hakimullah Mehsud as it did not possess his body, he said.
Hakimullah Mehsud claimed in new video posted on the internet today that he was alive and well.
He also warned that his fighters would carry out attacks on major cities in the U.S. within a month to avenge the killing of top Taliban leaders like Baithullah Mehsud.
Reports earlier this year had said that Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistan’s tribal belt in January.
Mr. Malik further said: “Terrorists are not Muslims. They are rather infidels. The operation against militants will continue till the last militant is killed or captured.”
Mr. Malik told reporters outside parliament that the Pakistan government will react to the conviction of Kasab only after the detailed judgment is made public.
He made the remarks hours after a special court in Mumbai found Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested during the attacks, guilty of murder and waging war against India.
Kasab was convicted on most of the 86 charges against him and faces the death penalty.
Asked by reporters if the Pakistan government will provide aid to Kasab, Mr. Malik said authorities would act within the provisions of law.
“If someone wants or applies (for assistance), we will examine it. If he doesn’t apply, then we will not examine it,” he said.
“Help is given to those who ask for it. If you ask (me), a terrorist is a terrorist,” Mr. Malik added.
Referring to the trial of seven suspects arrested by Pakistani authorities for alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks, Mr. Malik said the First Information Report against these persons was filed on the basis of Kasab’s statement.
“Our court will want that the person who recorded Kasab’s statement should come (to Pakistan) to testify,” he said.
The Pakistan government recently sought formal access to Kasab to facilitate the trial of the seven suspects, including Lashker-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
Mr. Malik also there was credible information about the death of Hakimullah Mehsud, the chief of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
However, the government cannot conduct a DNA test to prove the death of Hakimullah Mehsud as it did not possess his body, he said.
Hakimullah Mehsud claimed in new video posted on the internet today that he was alive and well.
He also warned that his fighters would carry out attacks on major cities in the U.S. within a month to avenge the killing of top Taliban leaders like Baithullah Mehsud.
Reports earlier this year had said that Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistan’s tribal belt in January.
Mr. Malik further said: “Terrorists are not Muslims. They are rather infidels. The operation against militants will continue till the last militant is killed or captured.”
