Kazmi sacked for non-cooperation
Special trial court judge asks advocate K P Pawar to defend Ajmal Kasab
The special 26/11 trial court on Monday sacked Abbas Kazmi, defence counsel for Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab for “non-cooperation” and asked advocate K P Pawar to defend the terrorist.
Special court Judge M L Tahaliyani also directed Kazmi to hand over all the documents and charge sheet of the case to Pawar, who is assisting him in the case. Pawar, who is from the State Legal Aid Cell, has been assisting Kazmi since the opening day of the trial in the November 26 terror attacks.
Judge M L Tahaliyani ordered Kazmi’s termination after he refused to consider the court’s suggestion to pick 71 formal witnesses out of the total 340. The court asked Kazmi to consider how many witnesses he would like to cross-examine from the first category of 71 witnesses, but he insisted on examining all 340, rejecting the court’s suggestion.
“It appears that Kazmi has developed a feeling that he has become indispensable and without him the trial cannot go on. He has developed a feeling that the court is helpless without him,” the judge said angrily. “This gives out a wrong signal to everyone and it is high time” either Kazmi withdrew from the case himself or the court terminated his appointment.
The court is likely to consider the appointment of one more advocate in place of Kazmi.
Trial will not get delayed: Nikam
The exit of Abbas Kazmi as defence lawyer in the 26/11 terror attack case would not delay the ongoing trial, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said here on Monday, reports PTI from Mumbai.
Advocate K P Pawar, who has been assisting Kazmi in defending Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab, has taken over the charge as the main defence lawyer as per the directives of the court, Nikam said. Both Pawar and Kazmi were appointed by special court judge M L Tahaliyani to defend Kasab.
Meanwhile, Pawar, who has over two decades of experience in legal profession, has assured the court that he would do his best to defend Kasab.
