Pakistan lawmakers call Jaffar Express hijacking a security lapse, demand reforms

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways has termed the hijacking of the Jaffar Express a security lapse and demanded stronger safety measures for railway passengers.

During an in-camera session on Tuesday, committee members expressed anger over the absence of the Interior Secretary. Lawmakers also raised concerns over the media blackout of the incident, while Indian media spread propaganda.

Hijacking timeline

The Jaffar Express departed Quetta at 9 a.m. on March 11, carrying 380 passengers, including 214 security personnel, according to the briefing. At noon, an improvised explosive device (IED) derailed the train between Paneer and Mushkaaf stations. Terrorists surrounded the train, initially releasing 86 local passengers.

The following morning, some trapped passengers attempted to escape but were shot by the attackers. Others reached Paneer station safely. Pakistan Railways dispatched a rescue train due to the area's inaccessibility. By March 12, law enforcement agencies launched an operation, rescuing 190 passengers unharmed.

Officials reported that 33 terrorists were killed, while five security personnel were martyred. A total of 354 passengers survived, while 26, including a railway police officer and an employee, lost their lives. Fifty passengers sustained injuries.

Security and operational failures

During the briefing, Inspector General of Pakistan Railway Police Rai Muhammad Tahir admitted that the railway police lacked modern equipment and a reliable communication system. He called for urgent capacity building, better intelligence sharing, and improved infrastructure.

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The Standing Committee questioned why security measures failed and why there was no prior intelligence to prevent the attack. They also criticized the lack of a clear communication strategy during the crisis.

Train service to resume pending security clearance

Officials assured lawmakers that the railway track and train were repaired within 12 hours. However, the Jaffar Express will only resume operations after security clearance. Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi and senior officials will visit Quetta to assess the situation before making a final decision.

The committee also announced plans for a closed-door briefing from the Minister of Railways, the IG Railway Police, and the Additional Secretary of the Interior Ministry.

They commended the security forces’ bravery in the rescue operation but urged stronger preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.