Pakistan court indicts six for attack on Sri Lanka cricket team

Lahore: An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the prosecution witnesses by 30 June  after framing charges against six members of a banned outfit accused in the 2009 Sri Lankan cricket team attack case.

During in-camera proceedings on Wednesday held at Kot Lakhpat Jail all the suspects, Obaidullah, Javed Anwar, Ibrahim Khalil, Abdul Wahab, Zubair and Adnan Arshad, pleaded not guilty, International The News reported.

The first three suspects were on bail while others are behind bars.

In this case, the court had already declared two suspects, Mohsin Rasheed and Abdul Rehman, proclaimed offenders. The presiding judge, Chaudhry Azam, summoned the prosecution witnesses on 30 June.

The alleged mastermind of the attack, Malik Ishaq, was killed last year in July during crossfire between the personnel of Counter-Terrorism Department and the militants who tried to free their leader from the custody of the force in Muzaffargarh. Gulberg police had registered a case against Ishaq and others for their involvement in the attack.

The visiting Sri Lankan team came under a terrorist attack in Lahore when they were on the way to the Gaddafi Stadium to play the third day of the second Test match on 3 March, 2009. A bus carrying the guest team was attacked with AK-47 rifles and grenades at Liberty Chowk near Qaddafi Stadium.

Seven Sri Lankan players and team’s British assistant coach, Paul Farbrace were injured in the attack, which left six escorting Pakistani policemen dead.

Then Sri Lankan cricket team captain Mahela Jayewardene, his deputy Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavithana and Chaminda Vaas had sustained injuries. Attackers had a plan to take the cricket team hostage to get some arrested commanders of TTP released.