Islamabad asks India to treat Pak prisoners humanly
FO also expressed sorrow over martyrdom of a Pakistani Peacekeeper in Congo.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Expressing profound grief over sad demise of Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah in Chandigarh India, Pakistan, Thursday, pressed Indian authorities to treat Pakistani prisoner humanely.
Sanaullah expired in a hospital in Chandigarh, India as he was succumbed to the brutal injuries inflicted upon him during an attack in a jail in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan also expressed sorrow over martyrdom of a Pakistani UN Peacekeeper performing his duties in the strife-torn eastern Congo.
Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry while addressing weekly briefing said that the issue of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails was a serious matter. According to estimates, there are 500 to 600 Pakistani prisoners in the Indian jails that include both fishermen and civil prisoners. There are a number of mechanisms in place like Judicial Committee on prisoners.
“We are doing all within our means to make sure that the Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails are treated humanely. We are particularly concerned about continued detention of those Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentence. According to available information, at least 47 Pakistani prisoners who have completed their sentences are languishing in Indian jails. We are pursuing these issues with Government of India at every level” he added.
He said that Pakistan was examining recent statement by Indian Foreign Secretary and would check the veracity of this statement. “If true, this has serious implications. We intend to discuss these important matters with the Indian Government” he added.
“Pakistan considers the ongoing Indian efforts to build Ballistic Missile Defence as a destabilizing development” Chaudhry observed adding, “We have consistently drawn the attention of the Indian Government to this issue during the composite dialogue process. Missile Defence can never be completely fool proof, but gives a false sense of security to the possessor”.
“As for Pakistan s development of short-range missiles, these address three major concerns emanating from India: One, the rising conventional asymmetry in view of ever escalating defence budgets by India; Two, offensive doctrines postulated by India in the nuclear overhang; and Three, development of ballistic missile defence. Pakistan s Nasr missile as well as pursuit of cruise missiles should be seen in this context” he maintained adding, I must also stress that Pakistan’s nuclear and missile program is for our defense, and to deter aggression, and is intended to maintain credible minimum deterrence”.
He noted that over 600 Zaireen were scheduled to visit Ajmer Sharif for the annual Urs this month. The Zaireen are currently waiting for their visas. We are requesting the Government of India to ensure that necessary arrangements are in place to provide full security to the Zaireen. We have also requested the Government of India to provide full protection to all Pakistani visitors to India.
“Government of Pakistan has affirmed time and again that composite dialogue process should be invigorated and made full use. There is a broad political consensus in Pakistan to have normal relations with India. We hope that India would respond positively to our positive approach on the peace and dialogue process with India” he added.
He said that government had made arrangements for airlifting Sanaullah’s mortal remains. At this point in time, we are waiting for the flight clearance from Indian side. As soon as, we receive the flight clearance our plane will go and bring back the dead body. On the focused discussions, we are of the view that the existing mechanisms should be used to discuss this issue on priority.
Chaudhry said that Sarabjit committed an act of terrorism in Pakistan and was convicted by our courts. To us, Sarabjit was a terrorist. As for Sanaullah, he was brutally attacked in the jail immediately after the death of Sarabjit. He succumbed to these injuries. In this regard, the Government of Pakistan has conveyed its concerns to the Government of India. As for your question on Syria, Pakistan has always condemned such bombardments which kill innocent people. We align our position to the statement issued by the OIC in this regard.
He said that judicial committee on prisoners in both the countries was in existence. The Committee was here in Pakistan last month and it visited India last fall. The process is continuing. He said that Pakistan also expressed sorrow over martyrdom of a Pakistani UN Peacekeeper performing his duties in the strife-torn eastern Congo.
Pakistan is saddened to hear the news and sympathizes with the family of the Peacekeeper, who laid down his life safeguarding global peace and security.
To a question about recent insertions from Afghan side, the Foreign Office Spokesman said that bulk of the statements coming from Afghanistan relate to the issue of posts. As you are aware we have protested with the Government of Afghanistan over the repetition of unprovoked firing from Afghan side on our Gursal post.
As in the past, Pakistan security forces exercised maximum restraint and communicated first to the Afghan side about repetition of this serious violation through military channels. Pakistan feels that repetition of unprovoked firing is adversely affecting our efforts aimed at better border management, which we believe is in our shared interest of checking cross border infiltration.
“On Durand line, we have made it clear that the international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan was a settled issue. We find the talk on Durand line a distraction from the other more pressing priorities like achieving peace and stability in the region” he added saying, “ Regarding question on the reports on Airbases in Afghanistan, I have not seen that report. I am not in position to comment on it”.
He added that Pakistan had started receiving foreign election observers in Pakistan. “As I indicated in previous briefings, a total of 355 foreign election observers would observe elections, hailing from 12 countries and 3 organizations (European Union, National Democratic Institute and Commonwealth). European Union observer mission has already sent out its team to various parts of the country. Other observers are trickling in. We have not received any request from Indian government to observe elections” he observed.
