26/11: Rehman Malik, Pakistan envoy discuss Mumbai commission's visit

Interior Minister Rehman Malik Saturday directed Pakistan's envoy to New Delhi to inform the Indian government about the planned visit of a Pakistani judicial commission that will interview key persons linked to the probe into the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Malik conveyed the direction to High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik during a meeting, said an official statement.

Malik and the envoy discussed matters related to the visit of the judicial commission.

"The minister also directed the High Commissioner to inform the Indian government on the planned judicial commission visit to India," the statement said.

The statement did not give any details about the members of the proposed commission or the date for its planned visit.

Malik conveyed a goodwill massage to his Indian counterpart P Chidambaram.

Malik and the envoy also discussed the follow-up of the Home Secretary-level meeting between Pakistan and India, the statement said without giving details.

In a related development, the Rawalpindi-based anti-terrorism court conducting the trial of seven suspects charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks today adjourned the case for a week as a higher court is yet to decide on key accused Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi's petition against the judge.

Lakhvi, the operations commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, recently filed a petition in the Lahore High Court asking that the case against him in the anti-terrorism court be transferred from Rawalpindi to Lahore.

Lakhvi said he had no confidence in the anti-terrorism court's judge, whom he claimed was being influenced by the government.

Anti-terrorism court Judge Shahid Rafique adjourned the case till November 5 without any proceedings today as the High Court has reserved its verdict on Lakhvi's petition.

The prosecution had filed an application in the High Court seeking the dismissal of Lakhvi's petition.

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Ijaz Chaudhry reserved his verdict on October 17 after hearing arguments by Lakhvi's counsel and prosecution lawyers.

It is not known when the High Court will give its ruling on the matter.

Interior Minister said last year that it was necessary for the judicial commission to visit India and interview a magistrate and police officers who were involved in the investigation of the Mumbai attacks.

The testimony of the Indian officials is needed to proceed with the prosecution of the Pakistani suspects, he had then said.

The anti-terrorism court has allowed the government to form the judicial commission but it is yet to be constituted by the Interior Ministry.

There have been no proceedings in the anti-terrorism court for the past few weeks as defence lawyers have filed several petitions that the prosecution says are aimed at delaying the trial.