Pak JIT to record witnesses’ statements from today

The visiting Pakistani Joint Investigation Team (JIT) will begin recording the statements of the witnesses in the Pathankot terror attack case, including a Superintendent of Police-rank officer of Punjab, from Thursday.

Top officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), who held wide-ranging talks with the JIT, meanwhile, have sought the voice samples of Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), said to have masterminded the assault, and his brother besides details of a trust run by the outfit.

Pakistani JIT headed by Additional Inspector General of Police, Counter Terrorism Department, Muhammad Tahir Rai, and also including ISI’s Lt Col Tanvir Ahmed, was handed over a list of 300 questions by the NIA during the day-long deliberations that took place at the latter's headquarters.

The Pakistani team has sought permission for recording the statements of witnesses including Punjab police officer Salvinder Singh, his friend, cook Madan Gopal, caretaker of a shrine the officer had visited in the run up to the attack, and officers who had carried out investigations earlier and prepared the seizure memo.

“We have lined up all witnesses for tomorrow and the Pakistani JIT may record their statement for next two days,” said NIA Chief Sharad Kumar.

The Paksitani team is scheduled to return on April two.

“We have identfied all four terrorists and handed over their names to Pakistan. We now want them to confirm our investigations in the case,” he said. He said the Pakistani side informed the NIA that one of the Jaish handlers Kashif Jaan, who is believed to have accompanied the terrorists up to the border, was missing ever since his name surfaced in the case. The NIA was told that the Pakistani police was looking for him.