Spooked by India’s audacious move of abrogating the provisions of Article 370 and bifurcating the state into two union territories, Pakistan seems to have rushed into taking a series of ineffectual decisions to protest against India’s decision. After snapping bilateral trade and downgrading diplomatic ties with India, Pakistan has today announced that it will permanently discontinue Samjhauta Express train services.
#Pakistan ने अब #SamjhautaExpress रोकी, अटारी स्टेशन मैसेज भेजा- अपना ड्राइवर भेजकर ट्रेन वापस ले जाएं#Article370 #Article35Ahttps://t.co/6vmJbNsrBv
— Zee News Hindi (@ZeeNewsHindi) August 8, 2019
In addition to this, Pakistan has also requested India to send a driver to Pakistan to take back the Samjhauta Express which was supposed to carry passengers on its run from Pakistan to India. Pakistani officials have informed Atari station authorities about their government’s decision and asked an Indian guard and a driver to take Samjhauta express from Wagah side to Atari.
Pakistan Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had recently tweeted that Samjhauta Express that plies twice a week between India and Pakistan has been suspended by Pakistan. He also added that those who had already paid for the tickets will get their money reimbursed from Lahore DS office.
Pakistan Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed: In a decision by the Railways Ministry, Samjhauta Express services have been permanently stopped. It used to ply twice a week. The people who had already purchased their tickets can get their money reimbursed from Lahore DS office. pic.twitter.com/ZVNOTEsQRZ
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2019
However, there are contradictory reports claiming that the services haven’t stopped yet. According to Atari station master, Pakistan guard and driver refused to come to India and therefore Indian crew and guard will be sent with the engine to bring the train from Wagah side.
Punjab:Train engine for Samjhauta Express leaves from Attari railway station,for Pak. Station Master says “Services haven’t stopped. Pak’s driver&guard refused to come to India. So they sent us message to send engine with Indian crew&guard. They’ll go with engine&bring the train” pic.twitter.com/L655YLrMaU
— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2019
Besides, Imran Khan government has also decided to put a ban on the screening of Bollywood movies in Pakistan.
Amid rising tensions between the two neighbouring countries, after India took away occupied Kashmir’s special status, Pakistan has banned the screening of Bollywood movies in cinemas across the country#ARYNews #Kashmir #Article370
— ARY News (@ARYNEWSOFFICIAL) August 8, 2019
After the abrogation of Article 370, Pakistan has been taking harebrained decisions to lodge its protest against India’s decision. It has snapped bilateral trade relations, scaled-down diplomatic ties with India and expelled Indian envoy from Pakistan.
