India is likely to allow a Pakistani commission to travel here to interview key witnesses and other officials in connection with the trial of seven Pakistani suspects in Mumbai terror attacks case.
According to sources, Islamabad will be informed of India’s stand on the issue after getting Bombay high court’s view on it. Sources further said India does not have any problem if a commission from Pakistan comes to take statements of additional chief metropolitan magistrate R.V. Sawant Waghule and investigating officer Ramesh Mahale, who recorded 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab’s statement, and the doctors who carried out the post-mortem of the victims and terrorists.
Sources, however, said, “The case related to 26/11 is pending before the Bombay HC. Therefore, the HC’s view is mandatory over the issue”. Recently, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of LeT’s Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others charged with involvement in the 26/11 attacks said the case can’t proceed unless key witnesses are examined. Pakistan’s interior minister Rehman Malik had also admitted that the trial of the seven Pakistani suspects had been stalled and it was imperative for the commission to visit India and record the testimony of key witnesses. Sources further said, “India want the 26/11 case in Pakistan to reach its logical conclusion. We have no issues in allowing them to visit India provided the HC gives its nod.”