Surprising last minute twist in Samjhauta blast case

In a surprising twist on judgement day in the Samjhauta Express blast case, a Pakistan national moved an application before the special NIA court in Panchkula near here late on Monday seeking to produce material evidence before the court.

As many as 68 persons, mostly Pakistan nationals, were killed in the blast that took place in 2007. Swami Asemanand is one of the key accused in the case.

The NIA court Judge Jagdeep Singh was to pronounce the judgement in the case on Monday. However, just before the verdict was to be delivered, Pakistan national Rahila Vakil moved an application stating that her father was one of the deceased in the blast that took place in the peace express train between the two nations. She stated that she would like to apprise the court of new evidence.

Copy of application moved by Pakistani national

Asemanand’s advocate SP Sharma termed the motive behind the application as malafide. He said the NIA court had served several summons to Pakistan nationals during the course of trial, but none turned up.

In 2007, two of the four Improvised Explosive Devices planted in two unreserved compartments in Samjhauta Express went off shortly after it left from Delhi for Attari near Panipat. The first charge sheet was filed in the case in June 2011 and two supplementary charge sheets were filed in August 2012 and June 2013. The Court has now asked for a written reply from the respondents on the application filed by the Pakistan national the next date of hearing has been fixed for March 14.