By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net
Mumbai: Advocate Abbas Kazmi, who is defending Mumbai terror attack accused Ajmal Amir Kasab, filed a petition on Thursday in the special court formed in the Arthur Road Jail, demanding that a notice be issued to the president of the Islam Gymkhana trust from whose board of trustees Kazmi has been expelled following his decision to defend Kasab.
As per the media reports, the special court judge M L Tahliyani told him that the court does not issue notices in such matters. He, however, said that his petition will be heard on May 25 and if needed, the case will be referred to the High Court.
Mr. Abbas Kazmi who was appointed by the court to defend Kasab, the lone captured alive terrorist of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, had to face criticism from his Shia community for defending Kasab and later he was expelled from the board of trustees of Islam Gymkhana on the same ground.
The Gymkhana in a letter to Kazmi had 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.
Kazmi had defended his decision saying that he was doing his duty as instructed by the court. He also alleged that the removal was the result of political enmity. ‘This smacks of political vendetta,’ he had said.
He told the court on Thursday that in the recently held ‘yearly general meeting’ he had differed from the trust president Zakat Siddiqee on some issues, and this is the reason he was removed. However, Siddiqee has refuted all the charges.
Kazmi also expressed his concern that his primary membership of the trust may also be ended in the ‘extraordinary special general meeting’ scheduled to be held on June 6.