May 28, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 22, 1429

NAWABSHAH, May 27: “I am at Delhi railway station. My train will leave the station after half an hour. I have purchased a surprise gift for you and I will call you from Lahore tomorrow morning.”

These were the last words of Abdul Majeed Khan on telephone to his wife, Hameeda Begum, in Pakistan on February 18, 2007.

Abdul Majeed, a tailor of Nawabshah and father of seven sons, had gone to India with his father Abdul Aziz Khan and mother Razia Begum to meet their relatives in a village of Rajasthan.

The Samjhauta Express in which they were returning home was attacked by terrorists near Panipat on midnight of February 18.

Some bogies of the train were set on fire after its doors were locked up.

As a result, 68 people were burnt to death. However, no clue of Abdul Majeed and his parents was found.

Akbar Khan, the brother of Abdul Majeed, received a phone call in the morning of 19th Feb from a relative, asking him about the return schedule of his brother and parents.

When Akbar told them that they must have reached Lahore, he was told about the terrorist attack on the train and asked to watch news TV channels for details.

It was unbelievable and shocking for the entire family who were anxious to see their loved ones back home as Abdul Majeed’s son Hanzala (11-month old at that time) was suffering from measles due to which Abdul Majeed shortened his visit.

Since that day, Hameeda Begum has kept her eyes on the door waiting for Abdul Majeed.

The family received condolences from everywhere, including PPP Chairperson Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Senator Asif Ali Zardari on the tragedy.

Akbar Khan had to face severe difficulties to reach Panipat and search for the family as he had no passport and it took a hell of a lot to get a passport.

Akbar went to Panipat where he found some of the remains, including a burnt page of his brother’s passport, some gift items and clothing but he could not found any of the bodies through which he could satisfy himself that they were no more in this world.

Akbar later travelled to Delhi where his blood samples were collected for a DNA test and he was asked to go back and wait for the results.

In between, a team of Pakistan Railways reached Nawabshah, verified all the details and handed over Rs1.5 million for three deceased to the family as compensation from the Ministry of Railways however no other help was provided regarding the verification of the death.

Akbar Khan kept writing letters to the president, the prime minister, the chief minister, the governor, human rights activists, the Indian High Commission, the Ministry Of Railways, the Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and others for taking up the matter of his missing family as well as of compensation but received response only from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs telling him that they were not concerned with the matter and the railways ministry was looking after it.

After the lapse of over five months, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad through a letter (No. ISL/CONS/302/3/2007) informed Akbar Khan that they had received the results of the DNA tests and that the body of his father Abdul Aziz Khan had been identified on the basis of the DNA tests of the blood samples provided by him.

The Indian High Commission further informed him that the government of India had announced a compensation amount of Rs1 million in case of each deceased passenger and an equivalent amount of Indian Rs1 million was payable as compensation in Pakistani currency on account of Abdul Aziz Khan’s death.

The Indian High Commission also asked Akbar Khan to provide a certificate of legal heir-ship from the court of a first class judicial magistrate with an authentication of ministry of foreign affairs of Pakistan.

Akbar Khan obtained a heirship/succession certificate by presenting the application along with a copy of the letter of Indian High Commission and after completion of all necessary formalities he sent the documents to the Indian High Commission but he has not received any compensation yet, however, Hameeda Begum’s certificate could not be issued so far.

Abid Arain, counsel of Hameeda Begum told Dawn that he had filed an application for obtaining the succession certificate for the family of Abdul Majeed but the court had made an objection demanding a similar letter which was issued to Akbar Khan by the Indian authorities confirming the death. Only after that the certificate would be issued.

Hameeda Begum, wife of Abdul Majeed Khan told Dawn that she was upset and restless as she was not sure whether her husband and mother in law were dead or alive.

She said that may be they were in jail, some hospital or in a state of shock. She said that she was praying day and night for a miracle so as her children and she hope that one day they would be back.

She said that it was the prime responsibility of the government of Pakistan to enquire about the missing persons as neither her husband’s body was found or identified nor any DNA test was matched and they were being informed by the Indian government that the investigation was underway and they must contact their government also.

Hameeda Begum and Akbar Khan demanded of Prime Minster Yusuf Raza Gilani, PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari and other concerned to direct the relevant authorities to enquire about their family members who were missing for more than a year.