Former Pak PM Gilani visited my house when my father died: Headley
Mumbai, March 25
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited my house a few weeks after my father died in December 2008, David Coleman Headley, an American militant of Pakistan origin associated with the Laskhar-e-Toiba, told the defence counsels on Friday at the ongoing trial for the Mumbai terror strikes of 2008.
Born Dawood Gilani, the militant — who has been found guilty by a court in the US for the attacks in which some 166 people, six Americans among them, died — said he had been nursing a hate for India since the India-Pakistan War of 1971, when some Indian planes had bombed his school, killing some people. He claimed he had joined the LeT for revenge.
"People were killed in the attack and that was one of the reasons why I had joined the LeT."
Headley also claimed that his father — a retired director general of Radio Pakistan — knew and disapproved of Headley's association with the LeT.
"It is not correct to say that the then Prime Minister of Pakistan — Yousuf Raza Gilani — had attended the funeral of my father who passed away a month after the Mumbai terror attacks on 26/12/2008. Infact, he (Gilani) visited our house (in Pakistan) a few weeks thereafter," Headley told special judge GA Sanap, who is trying Abu Jundal in the attacks.
"My father was aware of my association with LeT and he was not happy about it," he said.
When asked was it true that his half-brother Daniel knew about his LeT connection, Headley just said that he (Daniel) did not live in the same city in Pakistan.
Headley, who has been convicted in the US, for his role in the November 2008 attacks, also denied having used Daniel's mobile phone during his visit to Pakistan before the strikes.
He also denied claims that the FBI had helped in save up $30 lakh fine and that it was the reason for US's prime investigation agency to not insist on death penalty or life term for him.
"During my July 2004 LeT training, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi made a representation before me regarding killing of an Indian man who accepted money from LeT but shared information with Indian agencies,” Headley told the court.
He also claimed his handler, Sajid Mir, wanted the militants who executed the 26/11 strike to persuade the Israeli embassy to get Kasab released by trading hostages at Nariman House, a Jewish outreach centre that was one of the primary targets in the attacks.
Headley's father died on December 25, 2008.
Lakhvi — the chief of the LeT —has been accused of having plotted the terror strikes.
Jundal has been accused of having plotted the terror attacks.
On Thursday, Headley had admitted there was a failed attempt to kill Thackeray. He said the assailant was arrested but escaped later.
He also admitted that Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence had heavily funded the Mumbai terror strikes.
Headley is currently serving a 35-year-sentence in the USA for the terror strikes. He had been cross-examined by the defence in the trial for Mumbai terror strikes since Tuesday.
The India-Pakistan War of 1971 was a direct military confrontation between India and Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Lasting only 13 days, it is considered to be one of the shortest wars in history.
Some miliants struck different locations in Mumbai on November 26, 2008 in co-ordinated strikes. The attack killed several foreigners.
Highlights of Headley’s cross-examination
Headley says he had hatred for India since his school was shelled by Indian planes, killing many, during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.
He joined the LeT to exact revenge for the bombings.
He admitted to have been trying to organise a fund raising programme for the Shiv Sena in the USA.
He also admitted he planned to invite Sena supremo Bal Thackeray to the US for the event but said he did not intend to harm him.
I was in touch with Rajaram Rege for the event, but never met or spoke to Thackeray: Headley
I was willing to invite some other Shiv Sena leaders for the programme after being told by Rege that Bala Saheb was old and not well: Headley.
I cannot tell you the location of the jail I am in and cannot tell you details of facilities I am offered here, but I do not get offered luxuries: Headley.
My father knew of my association with the LeT but disapproved of it: Headley.
Yousaf Raza Gillani, then Pakistan’s prime minister, visited my home when my father died: Headley.
I was arrested in Pakistan once, the case was registered by my ex-wife Faiza: Headley
NIA did not ask me to name Ishrat Jahan: Headley.
I did not meet Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and Joint CP Atulchandra Kulkarni before giving testimony in this court: Headley.
Sajid Mir told me about a failed attempt to attack Mumbai: Headley.
Tahawwur Rana created fake email IDs for me after 26/11 attacks, for coded communications between us: Headley — Agencies
