W O R L D

Rana’s acquittal in Mumbai case
Names of 12-member jury to remain anonymous
Chicago, June 11
It will remain a mystery for ever as to why the 12-member jury of a Chicago court acquitted Tahawwur Husain Rana from his involvement in the Mumbai attack, as charged by federal prosecutors in one of the three counts.

Shortest man on planet!

Junrey Balawing poses at a health centre in Philippines on the eve of his 18th birthday. Balawing was measured at 24 ¼ inches lying down and about two inches shorter than the current record holder Khagendra Thapa of Nepal and is expected to be officially named as the world’s shortest living man when he turns 18 on Sunday. — AP/PTI

Nirmala, Namita Panjabi among NRIs on Queen honour list
London, June 11
Nirmala Rao, a professor of politics at University of London, is among several eminent people of Indian origin who have been honoured with Order of the British Empire (OBE). The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2011 was released today.

Permanent arrest warrant against Musharraf
The Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism court on Saturday issued a permanent non-bailable arrest warrant for former President Pervez Musharraf for failing to cooperate with investigators probing the 2007 assassination of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto.

Rana’s acquittal in Mumbai case
Names of 12-member jury to remain anonymous

Chicago, June 11
It will remain a mystery for ever as to why the 12-member jury of a Chicago court acquitted Tahawwur Husain Rana from his involvement in the Mumbai attack, as charged by federal prosecutors in one of the three counts.

As the 12-member jury decided not speak to the media after the verdict was announced and opted to remain anonymous forever, the split verdict given by them, which has resulted in a big disappointment to not only the victims of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, but also the governments of India and the US, would now only be a subject of speculation by media and analysts.

At the request of the jury, it has been decided that names of the 12-members would forever remain anonymous and would never be made public.

The biggest question is how one can help a terrorist organisation that they believe was involved in the Mumbai attacks, but determine that Rana had no role in the actual attack itself.

The nearest explanation so far has come from US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald who soon after the verdict said that according to him Rana’s acquittal in Mumbai case came because “prosecutors failed to prove Rana knew about the Mumbai plot before it happened”.

“I’m not disappointed overall. I’m disappointed in one charge being an acquittal but very gratified overall because the other two charges were very serious,” Fitzgerald said.

On the other hand, Charlie Swift, Rana’s attorney believed that the jury followed the evidence. “The evidence was clear that Mr Rana did not play a role in the Mumbai accounts,” he said.

The 12-member jury from various ethnic backgrounds, comprising both men and women, who were selected following intense screening and questioning process, held deliberations for more than 12 hours spread over two days inside a closed room on the 19th floor of the federal court room in downtown Chicago. During this period, no one was allowed to enter the room.

At any point of time if the jury needed any question or any requirement, for example a marker, they would knock at the door from inside and the a special designated court officer would take that piece of paper hand over to the judge for necessary action. On the first day, at least once they adopted this procedure when they sought clarification on the ISI and LeT links of Illyas Kashmiri and Pasha.

After the verdict was given, US District Judge Harry D Leinenweber announced the judgment in the court room in presence of the jury, the attorneys and defendant Rana; besides a huge contingent of media.

The judge gave members of the jury the option to speak to the media after the verdict to explain to the world behind the verdict and give an insight into their decision making process.

The court in fact had made special arrangements for the media to cover this expected press conference by the jury and as an exception allowed one television camera, one radio device and one photographer, besides the print journalists for this event.

And immediately after the verdict, press persons rushed from the 19th floor of the building to the 25th floor where the jury was to give the news conference and they queued outside the room to be screened by the security.

“Jury has decided not to address the media” announced one of the court officials communicating to the media the decision of the jury in this regard. This came as a big disappointment to journalists, who were waiting outside the court room for last two days. — PTI

US govt won’t appeal against Rana verdict

Washington: The US Government will not appeal against a Chicago court verdict which found Tahawwur Rana “not guilty” on charges related to his involvement in the Mumbai attacks. “It is very common knowledge that the law prevents the government from appealing a not guilty verdict. A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict,” an official said.

India may get further access to Headley

Washington: The US would consider giving India further access to David Headley, who has pleaded guilty in the Mumbai attacks case, for questioning by its investigating agencies once New Delhi makes such a request, the State Department has said.Last year, a team of Indian officials had questioned Headley in Chicago.

Nirmala, Namita Panjabi among NRIs on Queen honour list

London, June 11
Nirmala Rao, a professor of politics at University of London, is among several eminent people of Indian origin who have been honoured with Order of the British Empire (OBE). The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2011 was released today.

Rao, Professor of Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, who studied at Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University before coming to the UK for a PhD in the late 1980s, has been honoured for her service to scholarship. She has published extensively and been an adviser on several government bodies.

India-born and Cambridge-educated Namita Panjabi, who co-founded the popular Masala World group of Indian restaurants, has also been honoured for services to the hospitality industry.

Others honoured with the OBE include Mayur Parsuram Patel, Team Leader (Litigation) in the Treasury Solicitor's Department, Dr Sunirmal (Biku) Ghosh, founder of the Gwent-Southern Ethiopia Health Link, for his services to Medicine.

Dr Kanwaljit Kaur-Singh, chair of the British Sikh Educational Council, has been honoured for services to Education and to Inter-Faith Understanding, while Rajinder Kaur Mann received the honour for services to Black and Minority Ethnic People.

Mayank Bachubhai Patel, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Azibo Group, has been honoured for services to the financial services industry and to entrepreneurship.

Also honoured are Gurcharan Singh Dhesi, Sergeant, Metropolitan Police Special Constabulary, and Devinder Kalhan, group manager, of the Adults and Communities Directorate, Birmingham City Council.

Kamaljit Kaur receives the honour for services to equal opportunities for Asian women, while Jyotsna Arun Kotnis has been honoured for services to community relations in Northamptonshire.

Parvinder Singh Lalli, executive officer in the Department for Work and Pensions, has been chosen for the royal honour, alongwith Bipinchandra Dharamshi Patel, vice-chair of governors, Working Men's College, London, for services to Adult and Further Education.

Two individuals from Leicester figure in the list are Saroj Bala Seth, for services to community cohesion, and Dr Marcus Jayant Solanki.

For services to the Indian miniature tradition of painting, artists Amrit Kumari Dhigpal Kaur Singh and Rabindra Kumari Dhigpal Kaur Singh have been honoured. — PTI

Permanent arrest warrant against Musharraf
Afzal Khan in Islamabad

The Rawalpindi Anti-Terrorism court on Saturday issued a permanent non-bailable arrest warrant for former President Pervez Musharraf for failing to cooperate with investigators probing the 2007 assassination of ex-premier Benazir Bhutto.

Prosecutors from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told the court that Musharraf had not appeared in court even after being issued summons and declared a “proclaimed offender” or fugitive.

The FIA also sought confiscation of his movable and immovable property in case of non-compliance of warrants. The court asked for all details of the property, and adjourned the next hearing of the case till June 25.

The judge issued a fresh and permanent non-bailable arrest warrant for Musharraf, currently living in self-exile outside Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the court withdrew a contempt of court notice it had issued to FIA Director-General Malik Muhammad Iqbal for not following judicial directives after he apologised to the judge.