SC issues notice to govt in Pakistani Hindus murder case

Applicant’s counsel says govt did not make efforts on the matter

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Attorney General for Pakistan, Foreign Office and other accused on a petition regarding the murder of 11 Pakistani Hindus in India.

Last August, 11 members of Pakistani Hindu migrant family were found dead under “mysterious” circumstances at a farm in Indian northern Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district.

Daughter of the deceased head of the family Shrimati Mukhi had filed an FIR in Sindh’s Sanghar district on the incident, nominating Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for involvement in the murder of her family members.

As per Mukhi, her father, mother and other family members were murdered after they refused to spy on Pakistan and issue anti-Pakistan statements at the behest of Indian intelligence agency RAW.

On Tuesday, a three-member SC bench comprising Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar heard the case.

The case had been filed by Pakistan Hindu Council patron-in-chief MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar regarding violations of human rights and international Laws by New Delhi.

During the course of proceedings, applicant’s counsel Syed Qalbe Hassan maintained that the BJP and RSS extremists were responsible for the murder of the 11 Pakistani Hindus.

The lawyer noted that the government did not make efforts on the matter.

Dr Kumar stated that they protested outside the Pakistani Foreign Office and the Indian High Commission.

He said the Pakistani government raised the issue through the high commission but the Indian government did not cooperate.

Later, hearing of the case was adjourned for two weeks.

With input from APP