SC seeks reply from Sindh govt,ministries

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court has sought concise statement from Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry and the Government of Sindh regarding the detention of Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani was hearing the petition filed by Pakistani Fisher Folk Forum regarding release of Indian fishermen. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Asif Khosa were the other members of the bench. The Court asked the Government of Sindh to tell under which law it had detained these Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails. During the course of proceedings, the counsel for petitioner, Iqbal Haider, argued that 582 Indian fishermen were illegally detained in Pakistani jails, adding that two of them were children. He said that Indian Foreign Office had also owned the citizenship of these fishermen. Iqbal Haider also informed the Court that Indian Supreme Court on March 10 also ordered its government to immediately release the Pakistani prisoners who were languishing in Indian jails. He said that the Indian apex court had declared the exchange of prisoners between the two countries illegal and directed that Indian govt should release the fishermen without any condition. Indian government has released 17 Pakistani prisoners after its courts order, he further added. After hearing arguments, the Court issued notice to Attorney General for Pakistan regarding this matter and directed the respondents to submit concise statement and adjourned the hearing till August 26.