In view of Sikh hijacking Case’s commencement in the high court, I want to state as under, I personally appeal to the 8ovt of Pakistan and the Govt of Punjab that instead of trying us in high court the Govt should abolish our cases forthwith in the light of decision taken by their counterparts in India. Recently, Indian Govt has withdrawn more than 1,400 cases against Sikhs fighting for self-determination which included Indira Gandhi murder conspiracy case.
Everyone knows we diverted the Indian aircraft to protest against Operation Blue star on Golden Temple Amritsar and demanded the release of those captured during the brutal operation by Indian troops.
Now when Indian Govt has itself justified our protest by releasing all those victims of army attack and has visited the shrine to repent over the old wounds, the question of starting our case in the law courts looks quite awkward. It’s a political diversion of a plane and not a judicial crime.
Those persons on our demand list the prominent among them Harminder Singh Sandhu (Gen Sec All India Sikh Student Federation) Rajinder Singh Mehta (Ch Org Sec AISSF) Bh Manjit Singh (President AISSF) were all released recently.
Lastly, I suggest the govt concerned must stick to its gentleman’s promise of providing refugee status for which it spoke at the time of negotiations.
Parminder Singh Harfunmoula AISSF Lahore, Pakistan
Article extracted from this publication >> April 13, 1990
