<p>It was also non-committal on the issue of providing legal assistance to Kasab, who hails from Faridkot in Pakistan’s Punjab province. A special court in Mumbai sentenced Kasab to death for his role in the Mumbai attacks, saying that keeping such a terrorist alive will be a “lingering danger” to society and the Indian government.<br /><br />The court pronounced capital punishment for the 22-year-old terrorist linked to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) on five counts including murder, waging war against India and committing terrorist activities.<br /><br />“You will appreciate that our legal experts need to go through the detailed judgement,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said.<br /><br />“At this stage, what I can tell you is that Pakistan has strongly condemned the horrific Mumbai attacks. It is important that the culprits are brought to justice,” he told a weekly news briefing. <br /><br />On whether Pakistan will extend legal aid to Kasab, Basit said Kasab’s lawyers in India “will make a decision as to how to proceed”. <br />“It is incumbent upon the government of Pakistan to provide whatever assistance is possible to all its nationals abroad. Having said that, we need to draw a distinction as to where assistance is required and legitimate, and where it is not,” he said.<br />Asked about comments by Indian officials that the verdict against Kasab vindicated assertions about Pakistan’s role in terrorism, Basit said: “It is important to avoid such far-fetched statements and assertions, as our two countries have agreed to resume the dialogue process. Pakistan is approaching the resumption of dialogue in that spirit.”<br /><br />Basit parried a question about Pakistan Supreme Court’s order seeking Kasab’s confessional statement in connection with a petition filed by LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, seeking his acquittal in a case related to the Mumbai attacks. In his petition, Lakhvi contended that Kasab’s statement cannot be used in a Pakistani court.<br /><br />Crowds chant victory slogans<br />Outside the special court, crowds chanted victory slogans while Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam brandished a poster showing Kasab behind a noose and flashing victory signs to the media, reports DHNS from Mumbai.<br />As the news of death sentence spread, the crowd at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus burst into celebrations. Sweets were distributed by many while crackers bursts on the streets of Mumbai.</p>
<p>It was also non-committal on the issue of providing legal assistance to Kasab, who hails from Faridkot in Pakistan’s Punjab province. A special court in Mumbai sentenced Kasab to death for his role in the Mumbai attacks, saying that keeping such a terrorist alive will be a “lingering danger” to society and the Indian government.<br /><br />The court pronounced capital punishment for the 22-year-old terrorist linked to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) on five counts including murder, waging war against India and committing terrorist activities.<br /><br />“You will appreciate that our legal experts need to go through the detailed judgement,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said.<br /><br />“At this stage, what I can tell you is that Pakistan has strongly condemned the horrific Mumbai attacks. It is important that the culprits are brought to justice,” he told a weekly news briefing. <br /><br />On whether Pakistan will extend legal aid to Kasab, Basit said Kasab’s lawyers in India “will make a decision as to how to proceed”. <br />“It is incumbent upon the government of Pakistan to provide whatever assistance is possible to all its nationals abroad. Having said that, we need to draw a distinction as to where assistance is required and legitimate, and where it is not,” he said.<br />Asked about comments by Indian officials that the verdict against Kasab vindicated assertions about Pakistan’s role in terrorism, Basit said: “It is important to avoid such far-fetched statements and assertions, as our two countries have agreed to resume the dialogue process. Pakistan is approaching the resumption of dialogue in that spirit.”<br /><br />Basit parried a question about Pakistan Supreme Court’s order seeking Kasab’s confessional statement in connection with a petition filed by LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, seeking his acquittal in a case related to the Mumbai attacks. In his petition, Lakhvi contended that Kasab’s statement cannot be used in a Pakistani court.<br /><br />Crowds chant victory slogans<br />Outside the special court, crowds chanted victory slogans while Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam brandished a poster showing Kasab behind a noose and flashing victory signs to the media, reports DHNS from Mumbai.<br />As the news of death sentence spread, the crowd at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus burst into celebrations. Sweets were distributed by many while crackers bursts on the streets of Mumbai.</p>
