WARESPEDIA

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani anti-terror court has formally indicted LeT's operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other suspects arrested in

connection with the Mumbai attacks and adjourned the case for a week. Judge Baqir Ali Rana, conducting the trial behind closed doors at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, formally charged the suspects yesterday after hearing arguments by prosecution and defence lawyers, sources said. Though, there was no official word on the proceedings due to a gag order imposed by the court.

The judge scheduled the next hearing for October 17. However, Khwaja Sultan, one of the four defence lawyers, raised objections about the manner in which the suspects were indicted. Sultan told reporters that none of the lawyers were present in court at the time of the indictment.

Sultan said the hearing was held at the same time when a group of terrorists attacked the Pakistan Army's headquarters in Rawalpindi.

He quoted the judge as saying that since the situation outside the court was uncertain, those who wanted to leave the premises could do so. The lawyers left the court after completing their arguments and learnt later that their clients had been indicted, Sultan said.

He said he would raise the matter with authorities.