All the four accused in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case, including Aseemanand, Lokesh Sharma, Kamal Chauhan and Rajinder Chaudhary, were acquitted by a special NIA court in Panchkula on Wednesday, 20 March.
Attacking India’s judiciary, Pakistan summoned the Indian High Commissioner to lodge a strong protest against the acquittal of all four accused in the case.
Responding to Pakistan's condemnation of the acquittal, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sources said the Indian High Commissioner rejected Pakistan's assertions.
Earlier on Wednesday, the NIA court had dismissed an application filed by Pakistani woman Rahila Wakil in connection with the case.
On 18 February 2007, a blast in the Samjhauta Express – which connects India and Pakistan – killed 68 people, mostly Pakistani nationals.
Aseemanand, a member of the right-wing Hindu group Abhinav Bharat, was accused of being involved in the bombing.
- The court had earlier been expected to pronounce its verdict on 11 March, but the matter was deferred due to the Pakistani woman filing an application
- NIA had said in its charge sheet that the explosion had targeted Pakistani Muslims
- Lokesh Sharma, Sunil Joshi, Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalasangra alias Ramji were named in the charge sheet
- The incident happened at Dewana village near the industrial town of Panipat, 160 kilometres from Panchkula, in Haryana
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Pak Trying to Politicise Samjhauta Express Blast Case Verdict: MEA
India on Friday, 22 March, accused Pakistan of trying to politicise the court verdict in Samjhauta Express terror case to "deflect" attention from its "failure" to bring to justice perpetrators of several terror attacks in India and the region.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said there was a complete lack of understanding on the Pakistani side about how India's independent judiciary functions.
Due process was followed in the case and the court has given the verdict based on materials available to it, Raveesh Kumar said in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that his country is studying the verdict on the case by the special NIA court and the acquittal of all the four accused, and weighing its options.
Owaisi Reacts to Aseemanand's Acquittal
The government should appeal against Swami Aseemanand's acquittal in the Samjhauta blast case if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is really the "chowkidar" of the country, news agency PTI quoted AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi, as saying on Thursday, 21 March.
Indian High Commissioner Rejected Pak's Assertions: MEA Sources
Responding to Pakistan's condemnation of the acquittal of the accused in the Samjhauta Express blast case, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sources said the Indian High Commissioner rejected Pakistan's assertions.
“He highlighted the due process of law was followed by the Indian Courts and judicial system in a transparent manner. The High Commissioner called out the lack of cooperation from the Pakistan government, including in serving court summons to Pakistani witnesses in the case. These summons were returned by the Pakistan Foreign Office and not served.”MEA sources
Pak Summons Indian Envoy to Protest Acquittal of Samjhauta Blast Case Suspects
Pakistan on Wednesday attacked India's judiciary as it summoned the Indian High Commissioner to lodge a strong protest against the acquittal of all four accused, including Aseemanand, in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case.
“Pakistan summons the Indian High Commissioner to register a strong protest and condemnation of the acquittal of all four accused in the Samjhauta terror attacks.”Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement