'Headley can be put on trial in Pakistan'

Pakistani-American David Headley's confession in a US court about his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks has strengthened the 26/11 case, currently being heard by a special judge in Mumbai, public prosecutor in the case Ujjwal Nikam said on Friday.

He, however, said 49-year-old Headley cannot be impleaded in the 26/11 trial here as it is nearing completion, but he can very well be put on trial in Pakistan.

Headley's guilt plea has corroborated the confession of lone surviving terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab in which the latter has said that 26/11 attackers were shown a film of targets in Mumbai at a training camp in Pakistan by Lashkar-e-Taiba conspirators, Nikam told PTI.

His admission of guilty in a Chicago court has strengthened the Mumbai terror strikes case, he said.

LeT had set up different modules to identify targets - one of them was to film them and show the footage to attackers, he said, pointing out, "This part was done by Headley."

Other module was to draw maps which was done by Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, who are currently facing trial in Mumbai, he said.

Yet another module was to take photographs, he said. Nikam said that it would not be possible for prosecution in 26/11 case here to implead Headley as an accused, because recording of evidence is over.

However, in Pakistan, the trial against seven conspirators is already on and the Pakistan investigating agency has declared Kasab as a proclaimed offender and one of the conspirators involved in Mumbai attacks case, Nikam said.

So, the Pakistan investigation agency can implead Headley too as one of the wanted accused and declare him as a proclaimed offender, the prosecutor said.

"It can also tender pardon to him, if he gives evidence against rest of the accused and other wanted accused through video-link," Nikam said.

Pakistan can do this if it has to fight terrorism, Nikam felt. "If Headley discloses more names involved in 26/11 attacks, they can also be tried in Pakistan on the basis of his statement," he added.