FO submits details of Pak prisoners in Indian jails to SC

ISLAMABAD Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday, submitted its detailed report in Supreme Court regarding present status of Indian fishermen in Pakistani custody as well as that of Pakistani prisoners languishing in the Indian jails. A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and comprising Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday was hearing the case of fishermen imprisoned in Pakistani jails on the appeal of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum. In its petition, the said forum made Federation of Pakistan respondent. Last Friday, the court directed the Interior Secretary and Secretary Foreign Affairs to submit a compliance report within one week. Barrister Iqbal Haider, the counsel for petitioner, pleaded before the court that Indian Supreme Court ordered its government to release some 132 Pakistani fishermen unconditionally. He submitted, Unfortunately, in the past two countries exchanged prisoners that were against the international norms and humanity. On the courts order, Foreign Office submitted report pertaining to details of imprisoned Indian fishermen. The report says, The fishermen confined in India and Pakistan are the ones arrested by the authorities in both the countries for illegal poaching in each others waters. Based on information received through relatives/family members as well as media reports, there are around 132 Pakistani fishermen in Indian custody as of today, said the report. According to the Indian claim of January 2010, there are 582 Indian fishermen in Pakistans custody, the report mentioned. It further said that out of 584 Indian fishermen, 456 fishermen have completed their sentences and their cases are under review in the Federal Review Board of the Supreme Court. The Federal Review Board in its meeting dated August 21, 2010 reviewed the cases of all the fishermen detained in Karachi, the report pointed. To ameliorate the sufferings of the prisoners/fishermen, Pakistan-India Judicial Committee was established in January 2000. So far, the committee has met thrice, however, the report said, since the Mumbai incident of 26 November 2008, the committee has not been able to hold any meeting. As per report, 108 Pakistani and 238 Indian prisoners including fishermen released in the year of 2008. Foreign Office report revealed that 456 Indian fishermen were not released due to Interior Ministry that was instructed to do so. It is submitted that since 2003, Pakistan has released 3,014 Indian prisoners (291 civil prisoners and 2,723 fishermen) while India has released only 1,066 Pakistani prisoners (554 civil prisoners and 512 fishermen). On December 22, 2009, Prime Minister decided to release 100 Indian fishermen as a humanitarian gesture. The Indian side, in response, released 31 Pakistani fishermen on January 2, 2010 and 17 Pakistani civil prisoners and 19 Pakistani fishermen on May 31. The Pakistani government has also freed 17 Indian civil prisoners on June 23, 2010. The Indian side released 4 Pakistani civil prisoners on June 30, 2010, one civil prisoner on July 23, 2010 and 28 Pakistani civil prisoners on August 18, 2010, the report further mentioned. The Indian High Commission in Islamabad vide its Note Verbale dated August 10, 2010 informed Foreign Office that the travel documents of those fishermen whose national status has been confirmed are being prepared and will be handed over at the time of their repatriation. These fishermen shall be deported to their country of origin as soon as their travel documents are received from the Indian High Commission, the report concluded.