Mumbai case trial in Pak adjourned till March 31

The trial of seven Pakistani suspects, including LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks was today adjourned till March 31 as the anti-terrorism judge hearing the case was on leave.

Prosecutors are expected to present a report on a Pakistani judicial commission's interviews with Indian officials and witnesses at the next nearing, sources told PTI.

"Judge Shahid Rafique, who is hearing the case, was on leave today and there were no proceedings," a source said.

The eight-member judicial commission, which included prosecutors and defence lawyers, returned from a visit to India earlier this week.

The panel travelled to Mumbai, where it recorded the statements of magistrate who recorded the confession of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving attacker, the police officer who led the investigation into the attacks and two doctors who conducted the autopsies of the terrorists and victims.

The seven suspects, including Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Lakhvi, have been charged with planning, financing and executing the terror attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people in November 2008.

The trial of the Pakistani suspects has stalled due to various technical issues for the past year.

Pakistani prosecutors have said the commission's findings are expected to take forward the trial.