761 Pakistanis in Indian jails: Report
By IANSTuesday, February 15, 2011
ISLAMABAD - As many as 761 Pakistanis, including 18 defence personnel, are lodged in Indian jails, according to a report presented in the National Assembly.
“As of January 2011, 761 Pakistanis are in Indian jails - 698 of them are civilians, 45 fishermen and 18 defence personnel,” said the foreign affairs division report.
Dawn reported Tuesday that the charges against civilian prisoners range from illegal and inadvertent border crossings to visa violations such as overstay and travel to cities not mentioned in the permit.
The Pakistani fishermen were arrested by Indian authorities on charges of illegal fishing.
The document mentioned that Islamabad regularly raised the issue of their repatriation.
Dawn said that a judicial committee on prisoners has been set up to ensure their humane treatment and expeditious release.
The committee held its initial meeting in February 2008 and thereafter visited Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails in June and Pakistani prisoners in India in August the same year to enable quicker release of those who had completed their sentences.
Both countries signed an agreement on consular access May 21, 2008.
