'Pak will ascertain root cause of Samjhauta blast'

Lahore, Mar 10: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz today said his government would try to ascertain the root cause behind the Samjhauta Express train blasts which killed 68 passengers, mostly Pakistanis, last month.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a ceremony in which he gave away 15 cheques worth 5.5 million Pak rupees to the kin of passengers who died or sustained injuries from the blast.

''We ensure that we will reach the root cause of the tragedy and make it public,'' Mr Aziz said, four days after Indian officials shared the results of initial investigations into the terrorist attack with their Pakistani counterparts.

An Indian delegation headed by additional secretary KC Singh handed over sketches of suspected attackers to Pakistani officials during the maiden meeting of the joint anti-terror panel in Islamabad on March 6.

However, Pakistani officials have asked New Delhi to share the specific results of investigations as was promised by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Shaukat Aziz.

The Indian officials believe the suspected attacker looks like a Pakistani who went missing in India last year.

Mr Aziz said Pakistan was in constant touch with Indian authorities with the demand to investigate the incident thoroughly, fairly and expeditiously.

He said the Pakistani government has fulfilled its responsibilities and would continue to provide relief to the affected people.

The Prime Minister also expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives in the Samjhauta Express blasts.

''The government is providing better traveling facilities to the passengers, especially to those on the Samjhauta Express,'' he said adding that the Wagah Railway Station is being upgraded with the establishment of a service centre at zero point.

UNI

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