Samjhota express matter to be taken to logical conclusion: Rehman Malik

Islamabad: Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator A. Rehman Malik has decided that the matter of Samjhota Express blast will be taken up by Senate Standing Committee on Interior to its logical conclusion as Indian court has already acquitted four people involved in the 2007’s deadly Samjhota Express bombing.

The acquittal of those who were involved in Samjhota express blast proves Indian duplicity and hypocrisy, he said.

The victims’ families had ended their protest in mid of May outside Parliament House on the assurance of Senator Rehman Malik that he will be taking up the matter in Senate Standing Committee on Interior.

In the pursuance of above, a letter was issued to the Secretary Interior today on June 1st, 2019, that ‘’Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Senator A. Rehman Malik has converted applications and statements of victims of Samjhauta Express blast into Public Petitions and the Committee will bring it on its agenda of the meeting to be held on 12th January, 2019.’’

It states that the matter pertaining to Samjhota Express was brought in the notice of the Committee on 30th May, 2019 wherein Senator A. Rehman Malik briefed the committee members about the progress made so far on Samjhota Express issue. It confirmed that the Committee will consider the matter thoroughly in the next meeting after receipt of the reply from the Ministry of Interior.

Senator A. Rehman Malik, Chairman Senate Standing Committee has further stated that a set procedure is being adopted for consideration of the matter. ‘’The set procedure includes that the victims of Samjhota Express have filed an application in their respective districts of Hafizabad and Sargodha for registration of FIRs which was their legitimate right and it was also the responsibility of the state to take up the matter as 42 innocent Pakistanis were killed in the tragic incident of Samjhota Express.’’

It says ‘’a letter was already written to Home Secretary and IG Police Punjab including DPOs of Hafizabad and Sargodha for registration of FIRs for missing persons who were travelling in Samjhota Express on 18th February, 2017. Ministry of Interior has to transfer the FIRs to FIA to investigate the case as per law.’’

It is also mentioned in the letter that the FIA has already recorded statements of the victim families, however, these two FIRs will become the base of recording the statements of those two eye witnesses under Section 164 of PPC and subsequently after its attestation, the state should appoint a State Councilor with the directions to file a case in Indian High Court on behalf of the witnesses who were deprived of hearing by the trial court of India. In this trial of Samjhota Express these prime witnesses were totally ignored which is abortion of justice and it is injustice to the victim families of Samjhota Express, the letter added.

Senator Rehman Malik has reiterated that the matter will also be taken with Secretary General; Interpol with request that the Indian Interpol to provide complete case filed on Samjhota Express, statements of 5 accused recorded by the DIG Karakre and attested copy of the trial in the matter.

He has directed that a rogatory commission shall be appointed by the Government of Pakistan to be sent to the India through diplomatic channels to ensure that Indian High Court and Supreme Court record the statements of the eye witnesses and other victim families properly.

He further directed that the FIA shall also write to the Interpol India liaison for deporting brother of Mr. Mubashir who was travelling in Samjhota Express on the day of incident and stands detained till today without any trial and therefore India should deport him immediately.