The Pain of Being Kasab’s Lawyer

The emasculation of Abbas Kazmi, defence lawyer for 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab, beggars description.

Depending on which way you look at it, Abbas Kazmi, defence lawyer of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive from the 26/11 terror attacks, has the easiest or most frustrating job in the world. Kazmi has been reduced to passing on Urdu books to Kasab.

He has so far added eight such books to Kasab’s library (see list), and got little in return. When Kasab decided to plead guilty recently, it was not just the judge or the prosecution which was caught unawares. The 54-year-old defence lawyer also had no clue. Likewise, when Kasab made disclosures important to the case, like details of the attack, Kazmi heard it with the rest of the world.

In fact, Kazmi has had little interaction with his client. “The only time, I get to speak to him is when he is in the dock. And there are policemen hovering,” he says. Kazmi has often threatened to quit. The most recent occasion was late July when following Kasab’s admission of guilt, he decided his client had lost faith in him. Ironically, it took his courtroom adversary, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, to mediate between Kazmi and Kasab, before the defence lawyer changed his mind.

“I am one of the most hated persons in the country. I had a flourishing practice. But when I took this on, all my briefs had to be transferred. Even the money from those clients had to be given over. I have also had to stop taking new briefs. I am financially drained,” says Kazmi.

With Maharashtra Assembly elections round the corner, political parties are demanding that the Kasab trial be closed. They have slammed it as a sham. A farce would be more appropriate.

Abbas KazmiAjmal Amir KasabMumbai 26/11