Seven terror suspects charged in Pakistan

Russia News.Net
Wednesday 25th November, 2009

Pakistani prosecutors have charged seven suspects of planning and helping to carry out last year's terror attacks in Mumbai.

Authorities in Pakistan have said the men belong to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, which has been blamed for setting off the attacks in which more than 160 people were killed.

The indictments have come on the eve on the first anniversary of the 60-hour assault on Mumbai.

The suspects have all pleaded not guilty, with their spokesman lawyer accusing the government of not treating them fairly.

He said they had only been charged due to pressure being applied to the Pakistani government by India, which had been pushing Pakistan to either prosecute or hand over the suspects.

India has accused two of the defendants, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah, of masterminding the assault and has provided the Pakistani court with some evidence, which it has claimed proves guilt.

The proceedings have been taking place behind closed doors at a maximum-security prison in Rawalpindi, just outside the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

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