PAK WOMAN MOVES COURT, SAMJHAUTA VERDICT PUT OFF

Panchkula, March 11: A special NIA court on Monday put off the pronouncement of verdict in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case and posted the matter for March 14 after a Pakistani woman filed a petition claiming she had some evidence relevant to the case.

The petition was filed by an advocate on behalf of Rahila L. Vakeel, National Investigation Agency (NIA) counsel Rajan Malhotra said.

Special NIA court judge Jagdeep Singh posted the matter for March 14 after the application was filed.

The final arguments in this case were concluded on March 6 and the verdict was reserved for March 11.

Panchkula (Har), March 11: A special NIA court had to defer its verdict that was expected to be pronounced on Monday in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case in which Swami Aseemanand is one of the accused after a last-minute application by a Pakistani woman.

In a surprise plea, the woman moved the antiterror court for directions for examination of the blast eyewitnesses from Pakistan.

The court was expected to deliver the verdict in the case relating to the blast in the cross-border train in which 68 people, mostly Pakistani nationals, were killed.

Special Judge Jagdeep Singh listed the application of the Pakistani woman Rahila Wakeel for hearing on March 14.

The woman contended that her co-nationals either did not receive proper summonses from the court or were denied visas by authorities. —