NIA didn’t tell me to name Ishrat: David Headley

Convicted American terrorist of Pakistani origin David Coleman Headley, during his testimony in a special court in Mumbai via video-conference from the US on Friday, rejected the suggestion of the defence lawyer that he took Ishrat Jahan’s name on instructions from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He also told the court that former Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had visited his house in Pakistan a few days after his father’s death.

Answering questions about Ishrat Jahan, Headley said, “It is correct that I did not disclose any sort of women’s cell of the LeT in the trial conducted against Tahawwur Hussain Rana in the US.” When asked about a “women’s suicide bomber cell”, he said, “I did not disclose this because I have no knowledge of this.” However, to another question, he clarified, “I was answering questions asked to me (sic). I did not disclose the name of Ishrat Jahan because I was not asked any question about her. I was not making any speech there.” He confirmed that the NIA also questioned him about Ishrat Jahan, but denied the defence’s suggestion that he took Ishrat’s name in this court on the NIA’s instructions. “Why they would suggest me (sic),” he asked. Headley once again spoke about Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Khan Abdul Wahab, the defence lawyer acting for Zabiuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal, started asking questions about Bal Thackeray and Ishrat Jahan in the morning. To the questions about Bal Thackeray, Headley told the court he had “arranged” a fund-raising programme for the Shiv Sena in the US and had planned to invite the then party chief, Bal Thackeray, to the event. However, there were no plans to attack Mr Thackeray, who was on the LeT hit list, in the US, Headley told the court.

He said Sena member Rajaram Rege had told him that “Bal Thackeray was sick and so maybe his son and other party leaders may attend the programme”. When the defence counsel asked him if the LeT knew about this fund-raising programme, Headley replied that he had discussed this with Sajid Mir. He told the court that he visited the Sena office twice but never met Bal Thackeray.

He also denied that he had met the special public prosecutor of this case, Mr Ujjwal Nikam, and joint commissioner of police (crime) Atulchandra Kulkarni before commencement of trial in the US.

Headley revealed that his father died almost a month after the 26/11 attacks on December 25, 2008, and the then Prime Minister of Pakistan had made a condolence visit to his house. Denying the defence’s suggestion, he said the then Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gillani, did not attended his father’s funeral. According to him, his father had retired as director-general of Pakistan Radio and Mr Gillani had visited his house in Pakistan a few days after his father’s death. He also stated before special judge G.A. Sanap that he had informed his father about his association with the LeT and that his father had opposed it. BJP Legislature Party decides to form government with PDP. BJP Legislature Party today unanimously decided to form government in Jammu and Kashmir with coalition partner PDP and extended support to PDP's chief ministerial candidate Mehbooba Mufti.