BJP protests 26/11 trial's slow pace, Khar-Hurriyat meet

Bharatiya Janata Party Wednesday registered its protest with Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar against her meeting with Hurriyat leaders as well as over the "dismal progress" made in the 26/11 trial in that country.

Khar called on Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday afternoon. During the meeting, Swaraj conveyed her protest over Khar's meeting with the separatist leaders of Kashmir (Hurriyat) during her first visit to India, the BJP said in a statement.

NDA Working President LK Advani had expressed the same sentiments when Khar called on him in the morning.

"This is her first visit to the country and she met the separatists. This is not right. Her meeting is unacceptable to us," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

Swaraj also brought up the issue of the slow pace of the Mumbai trial in Pakistan.

"The progress in this trial is practically nil. Four presiding judges have already been transferred and the fifth judge has joined recently. Three prosecutors have also been changed and out of 100 named witnesses till date only one has been examined," the party said.

Swaraj particularly highlighted that a satisfactory progress in the trial of 26/11 Mumbai terror accused is the most important confidence building measure (CBM) as far as India is concerned.

"In the absence of any worthwhile progress on this, other CBMs have not much relevance. She hoped that Pakistan would act against the accused terrorists speedily and without fail," the statement said.