Pak wants progress in 26/11 Mumbai attack case: Malik

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday said that his country wants progress in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case, and would extend every possible cooperation to India to take things forward.

Addressing the media after meeting Indian Ambassador to Pakistan Sharat Sabharwal, Malik also said that the formation of a commission to record the testimony of two key Indian witnesses was crucial in this regard.

“The Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trial is yet to decide on India’s proposal that the witnesses should testify via video-conferencing and the trial is stuck,” The Nation quoted Malik, as saying.

“We want this trial to go ahead. That’s why I have proposed to India, while talking to Chidambaram, that how about if we move our case to our trial court and request them to appoint a commission,” he added.

He further said that prosecutors would approach the trial court on Monday with a petition on forming the commission.

“Though such video-conferencing is not allowed under domestic laws, prosecutors have made a special request to the trial court to allow Indian witnesses to testify over a video link. The anti-terrorism court is yet to decide on this issue,” Malik said.

Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others are charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks, and are currently undergoing trial in an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi. (ANI)