Mumbai attack victims seek $ 688 mn from Pak accused

Washington: Nine American and Israeli victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks have demanded a compensation of $ 688 million from the Pakistan-based perpetrators of the terror assault, including JuD chief Hafiz Saeed. In a re-submission before a New York court on October 30 and 31, the nine victims of the Mumbai attacks - from the US and Israel - argued for a “trial by jury” and “default judgement” against Jamaatud-Dawa (JuD) and Lashkare-Taiba (LeT). They also argued for a “trial by jury” and “default judgement” against JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, LeT commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Sajid Majid, Azam Cheema and two other Pakistani nationals, Major Iqbal and Major Sameer Ali. According to their attorney, the request for “trial by jury”, “default judgement” and a “$ 688 million compensation” was filed before the Eastern District Court of New York after November 1, 2013, court summons were duly served to JuDLeT and other defendants in Pakistan to which they did not respond.
The compensation has been sought by the family members of seven people who were killed by LeT terrorists and two others who were injured. The American and Israeli victims of the 2008 attacks had first filed their case on November 19, 2010. They had also sought action against ISI and its chief, but the court ruled that out after the US state department told the court that they enjoyed diplomatic immunity as they were a part of a foreign government.
According to court papers, LeT, its leaders and other defendants were served with court summons and complaints. But they have failed to answer or otherwise defend against this action, alleged the attorney on behalf of the 2611 victims, including Rabbi Shimon Rosenberg, father of Rifka Holtzberg who was murdered alongside her husband Rabbi Gabriel Holtzberg during the attack on the Chabad House in Mumbai.