MUMBAI: Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab, the lone surviving suspect in the last year’s terror attacks in Mumbai, yesterday admitted before of judge of being a Pakistani national.

“Yes, I am Pakistani and hail from Faridkot district in Punjab province of Pakistan,” Qasab told the Special Court in Mumbai on the first day of proceedings.

Qasab, who addressed the court via video link from prison because of concerns about his security, also agreed to a government-appointed lawyer. This was his second such appearance.

Special judge M.L. Tahiliyani asked Qasab to identify himself and asked him where he was from. Qasab replied that he was from Faridkot, in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

Tahiliyani asked Qasab if he could see him clearly through the video link and then introduced himself as the judge heading his trial. Qasab looked relaxed and was dressed in a gray tunic and loose pants, said. He greeted the judge with folded hands.

Qasab told the court that he had no legal counsel so far and when Tahiliyani asked if he would like the court to provide him with a lawyer, he said, “do whatever you think is right.”

Qasab, 21, was charged last month with 12 criminal counts, including murder and waging war against India and could face the death penalty if convicted. Nine other attackers were killed during the three-day siege in November, which left 164 people dead and targeted luxury hotels, a Jewish center and other sites across the city.

India has blamed the attack on Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant group fighting Indian rule in the divided Kashmir region.

Earlier, the special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam told the court that there was a serious threat to Qasab’s life from the Lashkar-e-Taiba, to which the court issued strict directive to the state government to beef up Qasab’s security to the highest level.

Meanwhile, the court extended Qasab’s judicial custody till March 30 and the next hearing on the same date.

The court in a special order, banned the electronic and print media from publishing or telecasting any pictures or video visuals of the terrorist attacks at the Taj Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Times Building and the Nariman House till the end of the trial. The media was also banned from broadcasting or printing the transcript of the telephonic conversation between the terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan.

The court said that it would take a decision shortly whether or not to permit the media from displaying maps of the terrorist attacks and of the jail premises.

— With input from agencies