By Maham Khan and Kristin Camelia Rencher
It is easy to find Rana M. Ahktar, the father-in-law of Tahawwur Hussain Rana — a Chicago-based Pakistani American awaiting trial in connection to an attack plot on Danish cartoonist in October 2009.
Ahktar sits at the cash register of Rana’s grocery store in West Rogers Park. He wears a long beard and is garbed in traditional Pakistani clothing.
“What do you want to know?” Ahktar asked. “The lawyers have told me not to speak. But I don’t feel like being silent.”
He had just visited Rana at a federal facility in Chicago the night before. The two men discussed life in general, Ahktar said. According to Ahktar, Rana believes God is testing him with a trial.
“This is a trial for my son-in-law, and for our whole community,” Ahktar said, nodding his head, as in acceptance.
