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Katju seeks pardon for Zaibunissa in 1993
Mumbai blasts case
Wednesday March 27, 2013 01:20:14 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi/Mumbai: After actor Sanjay Dutt, Press Council of India chairman Markandey
Katju Wednesday sought a pardon for Zaibunissa Kazi, another
convict in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
The former apex court judge said that he would write to President
Pranab Mukherjee and Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan to
pardon Zaibunissa Kazi, 70, on humanitarian grounds.
"Zaibunissa Kazi also deserves a pardon. I was earlier considering
her case and after going through her judgement file, I am of the
firm opinion that she also deserves a pardon," Katju said in his
blog.
"I have decided to appeal to the president of India as well as the
governor of Maharashtra to pardon Zaibunnisa and Sanjay Dutt," he
said.
The Supreme Court verdict Thursday upheld Dutt's conviction for
illegal possession of prohibited weapons like an AK-56 assault
rifle and a revolver and sentenced him to five years in jail.
Two days ago Katju had said that he received an e-mail from
Shagufta, Zaibunnisa's daughter, appealing to him to seek pardon
for her mother.
Shagufta, 40, told mediapersons that her mother was innocent and
she had only agreed to keep a bag containing AK-56 rifles, bullets
and hand grenades that was brought to her by Abu Salem and Manzoor
Ahmed Sayed Ahmed. She said that Zaibunnisa was not aware of the
contents of the bag.
"I wish I was a celebrity or my mother was a celebrity, then I
would also get all the support that Sanjay Dutt is getting today.
If it is on humanitarian grounds, then why only Sanjay Dutt, why
not Zaibunissa?" she asked.
Zaibunnisa was a co-accused in the 1993 bomb blasts case and was
sentenced to five years imprisonment.
"The only charge on which she has been convicted is possessing
some prohibited weapons. It was not disputed that no recovery of
any weapon was made from her house. In my respectful opinion she
should at least have been given the benefit of doubt," Katju said.
"Zaibunnisa is a widow with various ailments. She had a kidney
operation some time back, and has to be screened every six months.
She can hardly walk. I do not think she will survive for long in
jail. Even on merits, I am of the opinion that she deserves a
pardon," he said.
On being criticised for seeking pardon for Sanjay Dutt, Katju
said: "Some people have said that many others will also appeal for
pardon. My reply is that I am willing to consider every case which
is brought to my notice."
"But I will make an appeal only if after carefully studying the
relevant material I am satisfied that the case deserves pardon. I
make no distinction between a celebrity and non celebrity.
Paragraph 125 of the Supreme Court judgment states that she is not
guilty of the main charge of conspiracy," he added.
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