An anti-terrorism court will begin trial of five suspects of the Mumbai attacks next week, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday.

Nearly 170 people were killed and over 300 injured when a group of 10 gunmen attacked at least five locations in the Indian commercial capital in November 2008.

India blamed Pakistan-based outlawed groups “Lashkar-e-Taiba” and its frontal organization Jamaat-ud-Dawaa for masterminding the Mumbai attacks. The groups had denied any involvement.

Malik told a news conference that the Federal Investigation Agency has successfully carried out investigations against five suspects of Mumbai attacks and a challan submitted against them to the Prosecutor-General.

Malik said the trial would begin next week and the court would decide whether or not to hold the trial in-camera.

He said Pakistan has also provided copy of the investigation to the Indian Commissioner in Islamabad.

He said the five accused in the custody of law enforcing agencies are Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, master-mind of the attack; Hamid Ameen Sadiq, funds facilitator; Mazhar Iqbal, handler and facilitator; Abdul Wajid, facilitator and expert of computer network; and Shahid Jameel Riaz, fund facilitator and member of the crew of the boat.

The minister pointed out that Indian authorities have been propagating that Pakistan was not serious in investigations but release of the investigations Saturday clear shows that Pakistan was very serious.

He said the delay took place only because of the delay by India in providing information sought by Pakistan. He said the Indians completed their investigations into the incident in 90 days while Pakistan took 76 days for the purpose.

He said investigations in respect of five accused are complete while further investigations would be carried out on apprehension of 12 proclaimed offenders in the case.

Malik said Pakistan was quite serious in the war against terrorism and it has lost 15,000 people since 2001.

A. nemdil and Agencies