ISLAMABAD, MAR 20 (DNA) – The Acting Foreign Secretary summoned the Indian High Commissioner today to lodge Pakistan’s strong protest and condemnations against the acquittal of all four accused, including Swami Aseemanand, (the main perpetrator, activist of the Hindu terrorist organization RSS) in the Samjhauta Terror Attacks by the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court.

The Acting Foreign Secretary stressed that Pakistan had consistently raised the lack of progress and the subsequent, concerted attempts by India to exonerate the perpetrators of this heinous terrorist act in which 44 innocent Pakistanis lost their lives.

The issue was raised repeatedly, including at the sidelines of the Senior Officials, Heart of Asia Meeting in 2016.  Formal demarches were also lodged regularly with India on the lack of progress and acquittal of the accused in other cases.

The acquittal of the accused today, 11 years after the heinous Samjhauta Terror Attacks makes a travesty of justice and exposes the sham credibility of the Indian Courts. It also belies the rampant Indian duplicity and hypocrisy where India reflexively levels allegations of terrorism against Pakistan, while protecting with impunity, terrorists who had publicly confessed to their odious crimes.

The Acting Foreign Secretary emphasized that the systemic Indian decision to gradually exonerate and finally acquit the perpetrators, is not only a gross reflection of India’s callous insensitivity to the plight of the 44 families of the deceased Pakistanis, who hoped that India would but also reflective of  the Indian state policy of  promoting and protecting Hindu terrorists.

He called upon India to explore judicial remedies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.