Unhappy with frequent adjournments in the ongoing 26/11 Mumbai attack trials in Pakistan, the Indian Government on Friday called Pak envoy to lodge a diplomatic protest against the delay in justice.
Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner Mansoor Ahmad Khan was called by R Tandon, Joint Secretary in-charge of Pakistan, in Ministry of External Affairs. Tandon expressed India’s concerns about delay in the ongoing trial and the fact that special court in Pakistan was adjourned for the seventh time in a row on Wednesday. The next day of hearing is September 1. It is learnt that India has also sought regular briefing on the progress of the trial in Pakistan.
In Islamabad, Indian High Commissioner went to Pakistan’s Foreign Office to register a similar protest. During the meetings, India underlined the high importance it attaches to the trial and is waiting to see justice is done by punishing all those involved in the attack from Pakistani soil. During the meeting Pakistan raked up 2007 Samjhauta Express blast issue urging the Indian Government to speed up the investigation and share its details at the earliest.
On 26/11 trials, Pakistan told India that the judicial process was taking its course. While efforts were being made for early conclusion of the trial, the Government has no role in adjournments. Pakistani High Commissioner in India Abdul Basit has maintained his government is committed to bring to justice people involved in the 26/11 attack. He compared Pakistan’s judicial process with Indian system where too adjournments are part of process.
“We told India that Judiciary in Pakistan is very vibrant and fierce fully independent. Today’s adjournment was due to vacation falling in court calendar. Our job in executive is to investigate, provide evidence and records to the court and we have done that. Our prosecution is doing its job. But like other countries, executive in Pakistan too cannot dictate judiciary. let it decide on merits independently,” Manzoor Ali Memon, spokesperson of Pakistan High Commission in Delhi told The Pioneer.
“But at the same breadth we also told India that families in Pakistan too are waiting for justice in the Samjhauta Express blast case. Both acts are commendable but we too are under pressure to get justice just the way Indian Government is. We have asked Indian Government to share details of trial and investigations,” Memom said.