Ajmal Kasab's lawyers welcome execution, question secrecy maintained by govt

Mumbai: Defence lawyers, who appeared for Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab in the sessions and Bombay High Court in Mumbai, on Wednesday welcomed his execution and said that by taking his case out of turn, the government has brought some peace to the victims of the 26/11 terror attack.

Defence lawyers Amin Solkar, Farhana Shah and Abbas Kazmi, however, raised questions on the secrecy over the hanging. "It is good that the government expedited this case as it must have been done in the interest of the society and

victims. May be guarding him for so long was becoming a burden on the exchequer. But why the secrecy ?" Solkar said.

Defence lawyers Amin Solkar, Farhana Shah and Abbas Kazmi said that by executing Kasab, the government has brought peace for 26/11 victims.

Endorsing Solkar's view, Farhana Shah said, "I was shocked. It was all of a sudden. Why was the execution shrouded in such secrecy." Solkar and Shah defended Kasab in the High Court after they were appointed by it to appear for the accused. Kazmi, who appeared for Kasab before the sessions court, opined that the government might have taken Kasab's mercy petition out of turn as it was an exceptional case.

"This case had international ramifications also. The common man was waiting for this execution. Even the victims will be at some peace now," he said. Kasab was hanged this morning at Pune's Yerwada prison, four years after the November 26 terror attack. Kasab was awarded the death penalty by the sessions court in May

2010 which was confirmed by the Bombay High Court in February last year and then by the Supreme Court. His mercy petition was last week rejected by the President.

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