Pak court indefinitely adjourns trial against 26/11 mastermind

Pakistan's supreme court has indefinitely adjourned the trial of Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief, Hafiz Saeed, accused of masterminding the November 26, 2008 attacks in Mumbai, which left 166 dead. The hearing in the case was allegedly adjourned due to lack of evidence.

Another probable reason for the adjournment could be on technical ground as the appointment of the new general advocate of Punjab court is awaited.

India had handed over the fourth dossier containing more details on the 26/11 trial to Pakistan on August 1. Saeed was released from detention about two months ago.

Saeed is a 'free' man according to his lawyer A K Dogar. The case hearing was adjourned immediately on being taken up, according to Dogar. The shocking development comes despite India's submission of an additional dossier with evidence of Hafiz Saeed's involvement in 26/11, which was expected to tighten the state's case against him.

Speaking to the media after Monday's hearing, Dogar said:

"He will continue as free man, he can do whatever he likes. He is doing his duties at the second most important mosque in the country. I tell the whole country, Saeed opened 160 schools from sources of JuD, 52 madrasaas and 4 universities. I am elated hear recently that a girl from the JuD Girls' High school, topped the list of all the boards."

Asked about the reports of a fourth dossier that India had provided recently, Dogar said, "Rehman Malik (Pakistani interior minister) who now calls all the shots in the country on these security matters - made a positive statement reported on July 28 - saying 'We have no evidence with us that Hafiz or JuD is in any manner connected with Mumbai attacks.'"

India responded to the latest queries from Pakistan on Saturday (August 1) over 26/11 by sending certified copies of Lashkar gunman Ajmal Kasav's confession and interrogation reports of LeT operatives Fahim Ansari and Sahabuddin Ahmed as part of a seven-page response. The communication is said to have sufficient evidence - as home minister P Chidambaram said this week - for Pakistan to proceed against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

The JuD, the politico-religious outfit guiding LeT, can be charged for the Mumbai attacks if Pakistan really wants to.