Samjhuta Express tragedy: Pakistani couple denied access to children's graves in India

[isupportaap]

There can be moments in life when you’re so plunged into grief that you can’t cry even if you want to. Such is the story of Rana Shaukat Ali and his wife Rukhsana who have to live with the adversity of losing their five children in the Samjhauta Express train blasts of 2007.

Their misery continued as they have been denied access to their children’s graves by Indian authorities despite a passage of eight long years.

Pakistani citizens Rana Shaukat Ali and wife Rukhsana (above) lost five of their children in the Samjhauta Express blasts on February 18, 2007. PHOTO: SUDHANSHU MALHOTRA



Ali, a man broken inside, yearns to visit Panipat in Haryana, because that is where the graves of his sons and daughters lie. “We want to travel to Panipat to visit our children’s graves for ‘Quran Khawani’ (prayers at the graves). We have been going to Panipat for ‘Quran Khawani’ since 2008. ”But since 2011, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has not granted us permission for the visit,” said Ali who is a vendor in Pakistan.

The couple lost 15-year-old daughter Ayesha in the terror along with his other children Bilal, 13, Meer Hamza, 11, Abdul Rehman, 6, and Aasma, 4.

This year, the pair was finally allowed to acquire the visas but restricted to Noida because of reasons known best to Indian authorities.

“This year, we have got the visa but only for Noida. We reached here by bus on February 9. “For over a month, we have been waiting for the Indian government’s permission to let us visit the graves to offer prayers”.

Rukhsana’s sentiments are not any different, “I dream about my children every night. They are asking me when I will come to meet them. I want to go to their graves as soon as possible,” said Rukhsana, as tears rolled down her cheeks

A photo taken after the Samjhauta Express blast at Diwana in Haryana. Ali and his wife have been denied visas to visit the graves of their dead children. PHOTO: SHEKAR YADAV



Knowing that they have been restricted to Noida till April 10 this year, Rukhsana said: “We have applied for a fresh visa to visit Panipat. We humbly request the Indian government to allow us to visit the graves of our children and offer prayers. We will be grateful to the authorities.”

“I have written to the Ministry of External Affairs to provide the couple with visas to visit Panipat. I have given a written guarantee to the authorities that they will not harm the country,” said Ashok Randhawa, the couple’s only friend in India and is the convener of the South Asian Forum against Terrorism. He works for the welfare of people affected by terrorism.

Ali concluded: “I am still hopeful that the Indian authorities will grant me my request, else I will have to return without seeing my children’s graves.”


Samjhuta Express tragedy: Pakistani couple denied access to children's graves in India - The Express Tribune

 

[Patriot69]

We really like you! You are very important to us! @isupportaap

 

[ravi kiran]

We really like you! You are very important to us! @isupportaap

of course you like him because he is pakistani.
on topic: why they buried them here? they could have taken their bodies back to pakistan and should have buried them there.

 

[volcano]

That should be resolved soon.

 

[runa moosani]

Indian authorities are really apathetic but the question is why they buried them in India?

 

[nair]

Hope their wished are fulfilled...

 

[syedali73]

What they will find at their graves? First of all the kids are at a better place now, secondly, the parents should make sacrifices and feed poor, and help needy in the remembrance of their lost beloved ones. There is nothing in the graveyards except painful memories.

 

[Patriot69]

of course you like him because he is pakistani.
on topic: why they buried them here? they could have taken their bodies back to pakistan and should have buried them there.

Ofcourse we like him. We have been keeping an eye on him and others for a long time. He is really important to our organisation.

 

[Windjammer]

of course you like him because he is pakistani.
on topic: why they buried them here? they could have taken their bodies back to pakistan and should have buried them there.

You do deserve a pat on the back for being such an intellectual.
After the Indian terrorism, were they in a position to take the bodies home, one can see them burned and bandaged as they also ended up in a hospital.

 

[ravi kiran]

You do deserve a pat on the back for being such an intellectual.
After the Indian terrorism, were they in a position to take the bodies home, one can see them burned and bandaged as they also ended up in a hospital.

Indian terrorism??
why they first came to terrorist Indian nation?
they should have stayed in their peaceful heaven called pakistan.
and dont tell me sending bodies to pakistan was so difficult.

 

[Patriot69]

@isupportaap is an expert in digging up inflamatory topics and posting them here and creating near riots on PDF.

Just imagine what he can do if he is given some RDX and an AK. He will surely make us proud!

 

[Windjammer]

Indian terrorism??

Unless Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Purohit is from Mars.

why they first came to terrorist Indian nation?

It's two way traffic....thousands of Sikh visit Pakistan each year for their religious festivities.

they should have stayed in their peaceful heaven called pakistan.

One also wonders why so many Indians crawl all over a Pakistani forum

and dont tell me sending bodies to pakistan was so difficult.

It's not difficult at all, we often receive bodies of our prisoners, however under the circumstances, perhaps Indian authorities were being efficient in disposing the bodies and the proof.

 

[Gunsnroses]

Indian terrorism??

Any doubt?

 

[Bang Galore]

Why are the graves in India? Shouldn't the bodies have been sent back to Pakistan if identified?

 

[babbar]

India actually gave hefty compensation to the families of victims. Im surprised their graves are in India though, something does not seem right.

And yes, Isupportapp is about as Indian as kahonapyarhai. But complainig to admins is akin to trying hafiz saeed in lahore high court by pakistani security establishment.

@isupportaap is an expert in digging up inflamatory topics and posting them here and creating near riots on PDF.


Just imagine what he can do if he is given some RDX and an AK. He will surely make us proud!

None of the admin team is into field work IMO.