LHC seeks report on Indian prisoners confined illegally in Pakistan our correspondent

LAHORE: Hearing the writ petition for the release of two Indian prisoners in Lahore who have completed their terms but remain imprisoned, the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry has called for a report of all Indian prisoners who have completed their sentences but not been released.

Advocate Awais Sheikh had filed a writ petition before the Lahore High Court on behalf of Indian prisoners, Satinder Pal and Karale Bhanudas, confined in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore who have completed their terms of imprisonment but remain imprisoned apparently due to non-availability proof of 'dentificatio'. 'We provided proof of identification to the Pakistan Foreign Office, that has been confirmed by the Indian High Commission,' said Awais Sheikh in a statement. 'But when no action for their release was taken by Government of Pakistan, we filed a writ petition in the High Court against their illegal detention, seeking immediate release.'

At the hearing of the writ petition today, Monday 31st Oct, the Chief Justice Lahore High Court called for a report of all Indian prisoners who have completed sentences but are not being released.

Pleading the case of the petitioners Satinder Pal and Karale Bhanudas, Advocate Awais Sheikh had argued that both countries are engaged in the illegal practice of keeping prisoners of each other's country in jail even after the completion of their sentence. 'This is illegal, unlawful and a violation of their human rights. They are the victims of politics and are being used as a tool.'

He said that that CJ asked him to raise a voice across the border and file petitions in their courts as well for Pakistani prisoners." 'I said that human rights lawyers in India have taken up such cases,' Awais Sheikh told The News. 'I am working for Pakistani prisoners too.'

He has earlier represented the case of a Pakistani prisoner who remained confined in Rajasthan jail after completing his term. 'With the help of my senior colleague former CJ Delhi High Court, Rajinder Sacher, he was released,' he said.

Through the media, Advocate Awais Sheikh, a long-time proponent of India-Pakistan friends and also the counsel of condemned Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, has requested relatives of Indian prisoners who completed their term of imprisonment but not been released to contact him immediately through his email (awaissheikhadvocate@hotmail.com) and/or cell number +92-300-8531792. The date of the next hearing before the Lahore High Court has been fixed for Nov 2, 2011.

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

The way ahead Peace initiatives will raise the urge for peace and the need for the allocation of more resources to the cause

By Shabbir Hussain

While relations bet .....more

PART-IV: Water, War and Peace 'Children of the monsoons'
By Khalid Hussain

ISLAMABAD: "We want to retain the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). It is India that wants to circumvent the provi .....more

Indus Water Treaty under threat Indus Water Treaty under threat

By Khalid Hussain

ISLAMABAD: The Indus Waters Treaty 1960 (IWT) that settled the sharing of the Indus waters was sign .....more

Fisherfolk hold rallies in Pakistan, Karachi: In a joint move to work together, fishermen from Pakistan and India took out rallies on Wednesday in Karachi and Porbandar, Gujrat of India, against the detentio .....more

Thaw at last in Pak-India relations THIMPHU: The prime ministers of Pakistan and India have agreed to normalize bilateral relations stalled after Mumbai attacks, saying the only way forward is through dialo .....more

'Interim pact' on Kashmir was for 15 years: Kasuri Says water management was listed under joint mechanism; Kashmiris were given independence in economic, social, political affairs; present govt aware of pact, agrees to .....more