The families of the 12 men convicted on Friday for their role in the 11/7 train blasts are disturbed at the verdict. Ataur Reman Shaikh, father of two convicts, Faisal and Muzammil, termed the judgment as “political”.
His third son, Raheel, has been shown as wanted accused in the case and is the subject of a red corner notice. “We will appeal in the high court against this judgment. We did not expect such a verdict. Zindagi aur maut ka faisla Allah ke haath me hai,” Shaikh told TOI. The police had termed Faisal as the ‘Western India commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba’, and have shown him as a bomb planter in the chargesheet. Muzammil was shown as a conspirator who abetted the crime. Raheel has been accused of channeling hawala money to fund the blasts. Muzammil was arrested from Bangalore, where he worked in a multinational firm as a software programmer. Raheel works as a software executive in the UK.
“We had thought of lesser punishment and that my children will be released today. However, the judgment is unexpected and political. Some other group planned, some other group executed the blast but the blame was put on these youths including my children,” he added. “Raheel was not even in the country when the blasts took place. Muzammil was in Bangalore and did not even visit Mumbai before or after the blasts. We will be going to the higher court against this order,” the father said.
The relatives of the other convicts could be seen dejected after the verdict. “It’s been difficult for all of us. We have been coming to meet our relatives from different parts of the state. We did not expect such a judgment. We will consult lawyers and go in appeal against this order,” said a relative of a convict.
“During the trial, the mother of one passed away. They have been suffering for a long time. We thought they would be released today. The judgment is unexpected and now we are planning to approach higher courts,” said advocate Sahid Nadeem, who is part of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema’s legal panel.