Pakistanis in Indian Jails await help
December 5, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under Pakistan News
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan News – Almost 30 Pakistani imprisoned in Central Jail Kot Bhulwal, Indian Occupied Kashmir, are waiting for government assistance for their release, it has been learnt reliably.
All of these Pakistanis have already completed their sentence, however escalating tension between the two neighbours remains to be a major hurdle in the way of their release.
Some of the Pakistani nationals have been languishing in Central Jail Kot Bhulwal for the past 15 years despite completing their sentence and blame the two rival governments of Pakistan and India for not doing anything to seek their repatriation.
18-year-old Abdul Ghafoor is one of the 30 Pakistanis who have completed their sentences in August 2008 but could not secure release due to unknown reasons.
According to details in a letter that Ghafoor wrote to his parents on 16 June 2007 from Central jail Kot Bhulwal, he unconsciously crossed the Line of Control near Muzaffarabad in July 2007 and was nabbed by Indian security personals deputed there.
Indian authorities put Ghafoor in jail for one year following his arrest. He completed his sentence on August 2008, however the Indians have not released him yet. According to Ghafoor, there still are 30 Pakistanis suffering in the same jail despite having completed their sentence.
Since the arrest of his teenager son , Ghafoor’s aged father Muhammad Manzoor has been visiting Ministry of Foreign Affairs asking concerned authorities for early release of his son. “No progress has been made yet”, Manzoor told this correspondent.
According to sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as many as 700 Pakistanis are languishing in Indian jails, including 400 fishermen, at present. Concerned authorities are said to be engaged in serious efforts to secure their release. However, escalating tension between the neighbours is said to be the major hurdle in this regard.
When contacted, Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdul Basit said concerned authorities are in contact with the Indians for the release of Pakistani prisoners. However he admitted the fact that the process was slow.
Pakistanis in Indian Jails await help was first posted on December 5, 2009 at 8:12 am.
