By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: The lone captured Pakistani terrorist in Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks Ajmal Amir Kasab is yet to be prosecuted but the lawyers so far appointed to defend his case have to bear consequences.
Abbas Kazmi, after facing criticism from the Shia community for defending Kasab has been expelled from the board of trustees of Islam Gymkhana on the same ground.
As per the media reports, the prestigious Islam Gymkhana in a letter to Kazmi said that since to defend a terrorist went against the essence of Islam he was being removed as a trustee of the institution. ‘…you have agreed to defend the most dreaded terrorist Kasab. This is against the essence of Islam. There is no place for terrorism in Islam and also no scope for any defense of a terrorist. To maintain Gymkhana’s integrity, your trusteeship is being terminated,’ the letter reportedly read.
Some days earlier Kazmi, claiming to be a prominent Shia leader and scholar, was appointed by the court as Kasab lawyer and just after days he had to face strong criticism from Shia community which demanded Kazmi should not do so.
Earlier the house of Anjali Waghmare, another lawyer, was pelted with stones when she had agreed to defend Kasab as per the court’s instructions.
Kazmi, while terming the decision ‘unjust’ said it ‘smacks of political vendetta’. ‘Islam Gymkhana is not a Muslim body; rather it is a secular institution comprising Hindus too.’ He has reportedly said that to defend Kasab has nothing to do with Islam and that whatever he was doing was his profession and more importantly a direction by the court.