Counsel who represents Delhi serial blasts accused gets a letter of commendation
Counsel who represents Delhi serial blasts accused gets a letter of commendation
A lawyer who is defending the accused in the Delhi serial blasts, Sena Bhavan blast and more than 20 other terrorists can only dream of getting honoured or even recognised for his efforts. But MS Khan is a lucky chap.
The government of Afghanistan has commended Khan for fighting for its citizens on the Indian soil. Officials at the Afghan embassy will hand over the commendation letter, written in Persian, to Khan as soon as it is translated in English.
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The embassy has also sent a request to the young criminal lawyer to take up the case of the eight Afghans who were arrested under the Arms Act 14 years ago.
But interestingly, even after six months the case is stuck in translation of the papers accumulated in so many years. "The case papers were maintained by the Jammu sessions court in Urdu. The translation process is cumbersome and we hope the hearing will resume very soon," Khan said.
The eight Afghans were acquitted by the sessions court but the state repealed the case in the High Court and the case was shifted to Jodhpur.
An Afghan embassy official confirmed the development, saying Khan was appointed their counsel on the special request of the family members of the alleged terrorists. "The family members of the detained Afghans contacted the president's office in Kabul and appealed the government to take up the matter with the Indian government," the official said, wishing anonymity.
"These people have been in custody for more than 14 years while the punishment in the Arms Act is lesser than that. For me it's just another case, which I have to represent under the constitution of the country. Our constitution assures fair trial to every accused. I don't fight for popularity but I do hope I will be able to help plug the loopholes in our legal and crime investigation process," Khan said.
Khan hit headlines when he offered to represent 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused Ajmal Amir Kasab. "My decision to fight his case was based on the Indian government's decision that he should be provided an opportunity of fair trial," said Khan.
Khan has also evinced interest in representing Sadhvi Pragya, an accused in the Malegaon blasts case.
Out of the 20 terrorists he is representing, Khan has been able to win acquittal for at least six.
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