Ruling on Pak woman’s plea in Samjhauta case tomorrow

PANCHKULA: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here, hearing the 2007 Samjhauta blasts case, will give its ruling on the plea filed by a Pakistan woman for examining eyewitnesses from her country on Wednesday.

The court posted the matter for hearing for March 20 after arguments on the application were concluded on Monday.

In a last-minute application to the anti-terror court, Rahila Wakeel, the daughter of blast victim Muhammad Wakeel of Hafizabad district in Pakistan, sought examination of eyewitnesses from her country. She had contended that her co-nationals either did not receive proper summonses from the court. The NIA argued that summons were sent through proper channels, but no responses were received.

The NIA also said that Rahila “is not a sighted witness” in the case. “The NIA has not received any communication in respect of 13 Pakistan witnesses from the official channel. As per the records, Rahila Wakeel was not examined during the investigation in this case by the GRP/ Haryana Police and NIA,” it said. The agency submitted that in absence of any communication from the Pakistan government or witnesses, the NIA is not in a position to vouch for the authenticity of the application submitted by Rahila’s counsel Momin Malik on March 11.

As many as 68 persons were killed in the blasts on Samjhauta Express near Panipat on February 18, 2007.