ISLAMABAD
Calling for a joint probe into the deadly blasts in Delhi-Lahore SamjhautaExpress, the Pakistan National Assembly today passed a resolution terming theattack an "act of terrorism" and asked the government to makearrangements to bring home the bodies of the victims.
The unanimously-adopted government-sponsored resolution called for the formationof a joint Pak-India investigating team to probe the blasts in which 68 peoplewere killed.
The joint investigation proposal was initially mooted by Pakistan RailwayMinister Sheikh Rashid who in his speech in the Assembly earlier accused theIndian Railways of not cooperating with its Pakistani counterpart in exchanginginformation of the dead and the injured.
Indian officials have not yet provided the correct details, he said.
The resolution expressed the hope that India will provide timely assistance tothe victims and demanded immediate and impartial inquiry into the act ofterrorism.
Read out by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan, the resolutionexpressed heartfelt sympathies with the injured and the families of those wholost their lives in the incident and said it had saddened every Pakistani.
It called upon the government of Pakistan to facilitate the heirs of the victimswho want to travel to India and ensure that the dead and the injured are broughtback immediately. "The affected families should immediately be givenadequate compensation," Afgan said.
He also called for ensuring safe journey both in India and Pakistan for whichthe railway ministries of the two countries should take appropriate steps.
The resolution said the house should be taken into confidence on foreign policyissues in the context of bilateral relations.
While Rashid criticised Indian Railways of not providing information, Ministerof State for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtiar told the Assembly that of the 68passengers killed, 49 have been identified.
Those identified included 22 Pakistani nationals and 27 Indian nationals he saidforwarding the details provided by the Indian government.
Bhaktiar said the rest of the 19 bodies which are charred beyond recognitionwould have to be identified through DNA tests of their relatives.
He said the Indian authorities have also detained one person on charges ofinvolvement in to the incident.
Terming the blasts an attempt by "anti-Pakistan" elements opposed tothe restoration of lasting peace in the region, Bhaktiar said the governmentwould seek details of the probe from India during next month's joint anti-terrormechanism meeting.
"It was the attempt of those elements who were not only anti-Pakistan butthey were against the restoration of lasting peace in the region. People andgovernment from both sides have resolve not to let succeed such forces, whichhave been bidding to sabotage the on-going peace process through such ghastlyacts," he said.
The Minister said one of the victims was earlier identified as Muhammad Shafiqwhile 10 of the injured were in critical state and doctors have advised not tomove them for 56 hours.
He said India had requested Pakistan for opening of a Visa Office at WagahBorder on Temporary basis and the same was accorded immediately.
Indian officials said 40 visas have been issued already for relatives of theinjured and the dead to visit Panipat and New Delhi. The visitors who werepermitted to cross through Wagah on foot were also provided with transport andaccommodation.
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