CNN Reports: Mumbai Attacker Seeks Pak Legal Assisstance; India and Pak Deny It Happened

[tekisui]

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/13/india.mumbai.suspect/">Mumbai suspect requests legal aid from Pakistan

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- The only surviving suspect in last month's attacks in Mumbai has written a letter to the Pakistan High Commission, or embassy, seeking legal aid, CNN's sister network in India reported Saturday, quoting a Mumbai police official.

Investigators said that Mohammad Ajmal Kasab is from Faridkot village in the Okara district of Pakistan's Punjab province and that the other nine attackers also are from Pakistan. Pakistani officials have denied that assertion, blaming instead "stateless actors."

Rakesh Maria, Mumbai's joint police commissioner of crime, said Saturday that Kasab's three-page letter was written in Urdu. In the letter, Kasab confesses his role in the attacks, CNN-IBN said.

The letter is to be delivered to the commission's New Delhi, India, office, possibly Monday, the network reported.

Maria paraphrased parts of the letter at a news conference but did not release a copy to the media, CNN-IBN said.

More than 160 people were killed in the three-day Mumbai siege that started November 26 and targeted 10 sites, including two luxury hotels, a train station and other landmarks. Of the 10 suspects, only 21-year-old Kasab survived, according to police.

more: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/13/india.mumbai.suspect/

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/14-Dec-2008/Pakistan-India-deny-receiving-Qasabs-letter">Pakistan, India deny receiving Qasab's letter

INDIAN Foreign Ministry officials denied Saturday of receiving any letter written by Ajmal Qasab asking Pakistani High Commission for legal aid, reported a private TV channel.

Meanwhile, Pakistani Deputy Head of Mission in New Delhi Afrasiab Mehdi said Saturday that the High Commission had not received any letter from Ajmal Qasab.

Earlier, Indian media, citing the police sources, had reported that the lone surviving gunman involved in the deadly attacks in Mumbai had written to the Pakistan High Commission (embassy) seeking legal help.

Local police have forwarded the letter to the Indian government, Mumbai crime branch chief Rakesh Maria told reporters Mumbai.

Reportedly, the gunman, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, has also asked Pakistani officials to take custody of the body of another gunman who was killed in a gunfight.

Qasab faces a string of charges including “making war against the country, murder, attempted murder and other charges under the arms and explosives act.”

The Indian media have reported that a number of lawyers have refused to defend Qasab.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/14-Dec-2008/Pakistan-India-deny-receiving-Qasabs-letter

[rainbow4321]

1. CNN-IBN news report is saying Indian lawyers are looking for a "loophole"

in him getting an Indian lawyer---right now, it looks like he will have to be given a court appointed lawyer because even lawyers who have defended terrorists in the past are refusing to touch the case.

They interviewed one lawyer who said that there is a push from attorney groups to use an Indian Constitution law that would have the guy be named a "enemy alien", meaning that he has no right in India to be given a defense attorney.

Of course, Pakistan doesn't really want to claim the gunman, so will they say he is not really from there and refuse any "legal aid". If they agree to give it to him, they can longer say he is not Pakistani.