Family says Ishrat innocent, Shiv Sena demands apology

The family of Ishrat Jahan on Thursday dismissed Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley’s claim that she was part of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT). The issue, however, became politicised with Shiv Sena demanding an apology from those who have been claiming Ishrat was innocent. On the other hand, the NCP said the court would take the final verdict on the matter.

Reacting to Headley’s statement, Musarrat, Ishrat’s sister, said Ishrat was innocent. “We do not know who Headley is and why he has taken my sister’s name after so many years. Various court commissions have said she was innocent,” she asked.

Musarrat added, “We have our doubts that Ishrat’s name has cropped up to save some criminals. However, we have complete faith in the judicial system and are hopeful of getting justice.”

Also, Ishrat's mother's lawyer Vrinda Grover questioned prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam’s tactics, saying certain questions he had put to Headley had nothing to do with 26/11. “The prosecutor gives three choices and says ‘Noor Jahan Begum, Ishrat Jahan and Mumtaz Begum’. He (Headley) selects Ishrat Jahan... It is not evidence. It is a mockery pointing to a conspiracy. There may be politics,” she alleged.

Abdul Rauf Lala, a social worker, echoed her sentiments saying, this shows that a name was put in Headley’s mouth and Ishrat is not connected to the 26/11 attacks. “So far, Headley has proven to be a double agent, and there is no reason to believe his words, if he does not have anything to back his claim,” he said. In the past, the Justice Tamang report, an SIT monitored by the Gujarat high court and the CBI in its chargesheet had said that Ishrat was killed in a staged encounter. “If Ishrat was in police custody, why she was killed instead of evidence being gotten from her about terrorist activities. Her family’s application on expediting the trial is pending in the Gujarat HC and we will move the high court again, seeking directions for expediting the trial,” he added.

Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “The court will decide if she was a terrorist or not. Even if we go by the theory that she was a terrorist, why was she killed Was the encounter carried out to hide some information ”.

NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad, who has been openly helping the Jahans, said he has to study the matter and then comment.

However, Shiv Sena member of Parliament Sanjay Raut said,“Those who were saying she was innocent should apologise before thecountry.”