<p>A Pakistani judicial commission, which will cross-examine witnesses in the Mumbai terror attacks case, is likely to visit Mumbai after September 19. India had suggested postponement of its arrival due to the ongoing festivities.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters that due to Ganesh festival, New Delhi has requested Islamabad to postpone the visit by a week. <br />It is one of the biggest festivals in Maharashtra and the commission is scheduled to visit Mumbai to record statements of the witnesses.<br /><br />Initially, the team was supposed to visit Mumbai on September 7, but it was later postponed by four days. India has already given a written assurance to Pakistan that the commission will be allowed to cross-examine the witnesses in Mumbai.<br /><br />The commission will cross-examine metropolitan magistrate Rama Vijay Sawant-Waghule, who recorded the confessional statement of Ajmal Kasab, chief investigating officer Ramesh Mahale and two doctors of the state-run Nair and J J hospitals, who had conducted autopsies of nine terrorists killed during the attacks.<br /><br />Pakistan has charged seven terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, with planning, financing and executing the attacks in November 2008. A total of 166 people were killed. <br /><br />Findings of the first Pakistani judicial commission, which visited India in March 2012, were rejected by an anti- terrorism court in Pakistan, as the panel members were not allowed to cross-examine Indian witnesses. <br /><br />India has been demanding an early conclusion of the trial as it believes that Islamabad was not doing enough to bring the perpetrators to book. <br /><br />The agreement on the visit of the second Pakistani judicial commission to Mumbai was finalised on December 25 last year in Islamabad, following several rounds of discussions between a four-member Indian delegation and Pakistani officials. <br />India expects that Islamabad will grant an Indian judicial team access to the Pakistani accused after the visit of the second commission. <br /><br />Meanwhile, in response to a question on Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial candidature, Shinde said parties are free to announce any “Tom, Dick or Harry” as their nominees for the top post before the 2014 elections.<br /><br />“Koi bhi Ramu, Shamu aur Damu ka naam le sakte hain (anyone can name any Tom, Dick or Harry),” he said. <br /></p>
<p>A Pakistani judicial commission, which will cross-examine witnesses in the Mumbai terror attacks case, is likely to visit Mumbai after September 19. India had suggested postponement of its arrival due to the ongoing festivities.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters that due to Ganesh festival, New Delhi has requested Islamabad to postpone the visit by a week. <br />It is one of the biggest festivals in Maharashtra and the commission is scheduled to visit Mumbai to record statements of the witnesses.<br /><br />Initially, the team was supposed to visit Mumbai on September 7, but it was later postponed by four days. India has already given a written assurance to Pakistan that the commission will be allowed to cross-examine the witnesses in Mumbai.<br /><br />The commission will cross-examine metropolitan magistrate Rama Vijay Sawant-Waghule, who recorded the confessional statement of Ajmal Kasab, chief investigating officer Ramesh Mahale and two doctors of the state-run Nair and J J hospitals, who had conducted autopsies of nine terrorists killed during the attacks.<br /><br />Pakistan has charged seven terrorists, including Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, with planning, financing and executing the attacks in November 2008. A total of 166 people were killed. <br /><br />Findings of the first Pakistani judicial commission, which visited India in March 2012, were rejected by an anti- terrorism court in Pakistan, as the panel members were not allowed to cross-examine Indian witnesses. <br /><br />India has been demanding an early conclusion of the trial as it believes that Islamabad was not doing enough to bring the perpetrators to book. <br /><br />The agreement on the visit of the second Pakistani judicial commission to Mumbai was finalised on December 25 last year in Islamabad, following several rounds of discussions between a four-member Indian delegation and Pakistani officials. <br />India expects that Islamabad will grant an Indian judicial team access to the Pakistani accused after the visit of the second commission. <br /><br />Meanwhile, in response to a question on Narendra Modi’s prime ministerial candidature, Shinde said parties are free to announce any “Tom, Dick or Harry” as their nominees for the top post before the 2014 elections.<br /><br />“Koi bhi Ramu, Shamu aur Damu ka naam le sakte hain (anyone can name any Tom, Dick or Harry),” he said. <br /></p>
