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Court records Kasab's plea; Kazmi to remain his lawyer
The special court on Thursday placed his statement on record and restarted the Mumbai trial. Abbas Kazmi will remain Kasab's lawyer after the judge asked him to clear all misunderstandings.
Three days after Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab admitted guilt, the special court on Thursday placed his statement on record and restarted the trial. However, the drama in the courtroom continued with Kasab’s lawyer Abbas Kazmi asking to be taken off the case as his client had lost faith in him, the court suggesting he continue, and Kasab assuring Kazmi that he had no issues with him.
The 21-year-old, the lone surviving Pakistani terrorist, had unexpectedly admitted his involvement in the 26/11 attacks on Monday, leading to speculation that the trial would end and a verdict would be pronounced.
The special court, however, decided to place Kasab’s admission of guilt on record and said it would be considered at an appropriate stage. “I cannot comment on its evidential value at this stage,” judge M L Taheliyani said, after which the trial restarted with the recording of the next witness’s account.
“Aap ke khilaaf 86 charges frame kiye the. Aapne sab nahin kabule hain, lekin gunaah kabool kiya hai. Isiliye court ne decision liya hai ki yeh case chalega. (There are 86 charges framed against you. You have not pleaded guilty to all of them, you have only admitted that you are guilty. That is why the court has decided to continue with the trial),” the judge told Kasab.
To which Kasab said: “Theek hai (All right).”
Kazmi decided to continue as his lawyer after Kasab said: “Nabharosewali to koi baat nahin (There’s no issue of lack of trust),” he said. “Maine to unko is baren mein kuchh nahin kaha hai, pata nahin unko aise lagta hai toh (I have not said anything as such to him, I don’t know why he feels I have no trust in him.”
The court absolved Kasab of the charge of admitting guilt in order to protect his Lashkar-e-Tayyeba bosses.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had alleged that Kasab admitted guilt to prevent the prosecution from furnishing more evidence. “I don’t think there is any tactical move on the part of the accused to save his mentors in Pakistan,” Taheliyani said.
(With inputs from agencies)
