Kazmi's assistant now calls the shots

Karthikeya / TNN / Dec 2, 2009, 04:59 IST

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Pakistani gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab's new lawyer, K P Pawar, said on the first day of his job that "he would do his best to defend his client''.

MUMBAI: Pakistani gunman Ajmal Amir Kasab's new lawyer, K P Pawar, said on the first day of his job that "he would do his best to defend his client''.
"I will fulfil whatever responsibility that has been given to me with complete determination and zeal. The court has expressed confidence in me by appointing me as Kasab's lawyer and I will do my best,'' Pawar said.
Pawar, who has replaced Abbas Kazmi as the chief defence lawyer for Kasab, also indicated that he would call 69 of the formal witnesses to court to cross-examine them.These witnesses are among the 340 formal witnesses whose evidence is being submitted to court through affidavits and will not be called to the stand by special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam. The prosecution's intention is to save the court's time.
Pawar's decision to cross-examine the 69 witnesses could prolong the trial by a few more months. Nikam had hoped to close his case around the first anniversary of the 26/11 attacks, on November 26, 2009.

Until Tuesday, Pawar had been playing second fiddle to Kazmi. He had been present in court every day as the court-appointed assistant to Kazmi. However, with Kazmi's ouster, Pawar has found himself in the hot seat of defending Kasab.
When asked about his strategy for the rest of the trial, Pawar said that he would not reveal much as he did not want to show his cards at this stage. The 69 witnesses he wants to cross-examine include those who were injured at CST and Cama Hospital, two of the places where Kasab and his accomplice Ismail Khan went on a rampage. People injured at other places attacked are not directly related to Kasab's cases as they were shot and injured by other gunmen.
Judge M L Tahaliyani issued a summons to the 69 witnesses and asked them to remain present in court on December 3 and 4. Aside from the 340 formal witnesses, the prosecution has so far examined 271 witnesses, including eyewitnesses who have identified Kasab as the gunman who shot indiscriminately and lobbed grenades along with his partner Abu Ismail.

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