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.
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.
“You will appreciate that our legal experts need to go through the detailed judgement,” Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said.
“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.
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”.
“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.
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.”
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.
Crowds chant victory slogans
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.
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.
