LAHORE  - A Commission comprising retired judges of Pakistan and India has urged New Delhi to immediately set free 55 Pakistani prisoners who have already completed their jail terms.
It has also called upon the Indian government to make it obligatory for lawyers to render legal assistance to such Pakistani prisoners who are languishing in various jails because they could not get justice in the absence of counsels who could argue their cases.
The Commission comprising Justices (Retd) Abdul Qadeer Chaudhry and Mian Ajmal (Pakistan) and Justice (Retd) M.A. Khan (India) made the demands in a report they compiled after visiting Tihar, New Delhi, Amritsar and Jaipur jails between October 25 and 31.
According to sources privy to the report contents, various Pakistani prisoners complained that they are not being provided medical treatment despite the fact that they urgently need it. The Commission said inmates needing medical care should be attended immediately, in particular the ones who are mental patients.
It has also been stated in the report that security arrangements should be made for those Pakistani prisoners who face threats.
The Commission also referred to the plight of female prisoners, especially the one in Amritsar jail where she gave birth to a male baby, who is now seven years old.
Another female prisoner told the Commission that her mother has died during her imprisonment.
The Commission recommended that the prisoners should be helped on humanitarian grounds.
The report also invited the Indian government’s attention to the situation of juveniles in prisons.
The Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails have been facing a difficult situation and the human rights organisations have also failed to change the attitude of the Indian government.
Drone strikes are war crimes:  Newly elected President of SCBA, Kamran Murtaza has stated that drone attacks are war crimes and Pakistani government should approach International Court of Justice.
Talking to media persons at Lahore High Court premises, he said that the Balochistan issue would not be resolved without resolving the issue of missing persons.
He hinted at convening All Parties Conference on Balochistan issue to lessen their sense of deprivation.
He was of the view that no appointment should be made in superior court till the retirement of Chief Justice of Pakistan because lawyers have already showed concern over such appointments.
He said bar and bench are part and parcel of each other but the bar had reservations over different issues.
He said SCBA would chalk out its line of action if Bar’s concerns were not removed.