Pak latest: Tell us by Friday if 26/11 case magistrate,cop are being sent

It is learnt that the Home Ministry is working out a response in consultation with the Law Ministry as this could be the first case of sending an Indian magistrate and an investigating officer to Pakistan.

“We are examining the legalities involved and will have a response ready for Pakistan,” said a source.

Pakistan,sources said,has specifically asked for Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate R V Sawant Waghule and investigating officer Ramesh Mahale to be sent for deposition.

The issue on the Pakistan side is that the charges against Lashkaroperations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi are based on Kasab’s confession statement. India provided copies of the statement that was recorded in Hindi and Marathi in the presence of Waghule. Pakistan got translator Naseema Khatoon to translate it into English and included the relevant portions in its chargesheet.

In his statement,Kasab named Lakhvi as the operations commander who masterminded the attack and Zarar Shah as in-charge of the media wing and the one who provided mobile phones. While Pakistani investigations have corroborated and strengthened the case against Shah and others named by Kasab,the charges against Lakhvi are centred on his statement.

Pakistani said its anti-terror court wants the Indian officials to depose as that could play a crucial role in Lakhvi’s indictment.