US court set to begin jury selection in Rana case

US court set to begin jury selection in Rana case

The imminent trial of Pakistan-born Canadian citizen Tahawwur Rana, co-accused with David Headley in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, could reveal ISI's links to terrorists and any evidence of spy agency's "malfeasance" would worsen US-Pakistan relations.

A US court will begin jury selection today in the case against Pakistani-Candian Tahawwur Rana, a co-accused in 26/11 Mumbai attack case with David Headley, which could reveal ISI's links to terrorists and any evidence of spy agency's "malfeasance".

Rana, 50, who was indicted by a federal grand jury under 12 counts on February 15 last year for planning the attacks, providing material support to LeT to carry out the attacks and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in the process, is set to go on trial in Chicago tomorrow.

The Chicago court will begin the process of jury selection today.

Rana, arrested in Chicago over the Mumbai attacks, in the wake of his claim that he provided "material support" to 26/11 terrorists at the behest of Pakistani government and ISI.

While Headley pleaded guilty, Rana has not.

As the United States presses Pakistan for answers about whether the ISI played a role in harbouring Osama bin Laden, Headley, who himself is not on trial but will be the main witness against Rana, is set to recount his story of the Mumbai attack in a federal courthouse.

"What he discloses could deepen suspicions that Pakistani spies are connected to terrorists and could potentially worsen relations between Washington and Islamabad," New York Times reported yesterday.

Headley, 50, Rana's old friend from military school in Pakistan, claims that two years before terrorists struck the Indian port city of Mumbai, he began laying the groundwork for the attack, financed by USD 25,000 from an officer in Pakistan's powerful intelligence service.

Pakistani-American Headley had told Indian investigators that the officer, known only as Major Iqbal, "listened to my entire plan to attack India."

Another officer with the intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, "assured me of the financial help," the Times said.

At the status hearing on May 12, discussions were held about the commencement of trial next week, in what is supposedly the most important terrorism trial ever to be held Chicago.

Commenting on recent reports that India may gain access to him, like they did to Headley last year, Rana's attorney Patrick Blegen had said that he was yet to be approached by the Indian government.

On April 25, in a second superseding indictment, US prosecutors charged four additional men, all Pakistani residents, in the 26/11 terror attacks that left 166 dead, including six Americans

Rana, 50, who was indicted by a federal grand jury under 12 counts on 15^th February last year for planning the attacks, providing material support to LeT to carry out the attacks and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in the process, is set to go on trial in Chicago on Monday.

As the United States presses Pakistan for answers about whether the ISI played a role in harbouring Osama bin Laden, Headley, who himself is not on trial but will be the main witness against Rana, is set to recount his story of the Mumbai attack in a federal courthouse.

"What he discloses could deepen suspicions that Pakistani spies are connected to terrorists and could potentially worsen relations between Washington and Islamabad," New York Times reported.

Headley, 50, Rana's old friend from military school in Pakistan, claims that two years before terrorists struck the Indian port city of Mumbai, he began laying the groundwork for the attack, financed by USD 25,000 from an officer in Pakistan's powerful intelligence service.

Pakistani-American Headley had told Indian investigators that the officer, known only as Major Iqbal, "listened to my entire plan to attack India."

Another officer with the intelligence service, the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate, "assured me of the financial help," the Times said.

Pakistan has been dismissing Headley's accusations against the ISI as little more than a desperate performance by a man hoping to avoid the death penalty.

The authorities said they expected the government to present e-mails and tapes of telephone conversations to support his story, the report said,
"Any new evidence of ISI malfeasance that emerges from the trial will reverberate in Washington," the daily said.

On 25^th April, in a second superseding indictment, US prosecutors charged four additional men, all Pakistani residents, in the 26/11 terror attacks that left 166 dead including six Americans.