CASE UPDATES
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to Delhi and Ajmer last weekend brought hope,not just for India-Pakistan relations but also for the Pakistani prisoner Dr Khalil Chishty.
Human rights activists, journalists and political activists worked behind the scenes in both countries to ensure that Mr Zardari was briefed on the case of the ailing Pakistani virologist convicted to life imprisonment after 19 years of being under-trial and under house arrest. As a result, Mr Zardari brought up the matter informally during his lunch meeting on Sunday with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Their meeting is believed to have given fresh impetus to the case.
On Monday April 9, the Supreme Court of India granted bail to Dr Chishty in response to an appeal filed by his lawyers. The court also gave Dr Chishty's lawyers leave to file for permission to visit Pakistan and also to reside at Delhi till the disposal of the appeal.
"A jailor told me that we will have to send Dr Chishty back....," said film producer Mahesh Bhatt, who is among the prominent Indians campaigning for Dr Chishty's release, commenting during a talk show on NDTV. "The question is whether we send him back alive or dead, in a body bag. The choice is up us in the land of the Mahatama."
Mr Bhatt recalled that Pakistan had released the Indian prisoner Gopal Das following an appeal from the Indian Supreme Court, and stressed that India should show similar large heartedness.
The People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), India, which has been at the forefront of the campaign to free Dr Chishty, has in a press statement appreciated the Supreme Court orders, but points out that the bail, while "an extremely significant step... is not sufficient as bail for Dr Chishty as seen earlier when the trial was underway for 19 years, was like house arrest."
PUCL also reminds readers that the Indian Constitution provides an executive remedy for the issue, as the President or the Governor of a State may grant mercy "to an individual at any stage of the judicial process". This remedy has been continuously "stalled by the Governor of Rajasthan, who despite being recommended twice by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan that Dr Chishty be pardoned, the Governor only let the file gather dust."
"We take this opportunity in the interest of justice as well as strengthening further the relationships between the two countries and urge the Governor Sh. Shivraj Patil to sign the Mercy Petition," urges PUCL.
Dr Chishty's son is expected to arrive in India on April 14, 2012, to pursue the case. Across both sides of the border, people are praying for the elderly virologist to be allowed to return to Pakistan - alive.
- Beena Sarwar
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Dr Khalil Chishty: bail granted
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to Delhi and Ajmer last weekend brought hope,not just for India-Pakistan relations but also for the Pakistani prisoner Dr Khalil Chishty.
Human rights activists, journalists and political activists worked behind the scenes in both countries to ensure that Mr Zardari was briefed on the case of the ailing Pakistani virologist convicted to life imprisonment after 19 years of being under-trial and under house arrest. As a result, Mr Zardari brought up the matter informally during his lunch meeting on Sunday with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Their meeting is believed to have given fresh impetus to the case.
On Monday April 9, the Supreme Court of India granted bail to Dr Chishty in response to an appeal filed by his lawyers. The court also gave Dr Chishty's lawyers leave to file for permission to visit Pakistan and also to reside at Delhi till the disposal of the appeal.
"A jailor told me that we will have to send Dr Chishty back....," said film producer Mahesh Bhatt, who is among the prominent Indians campaigning for Dr Chishty's release, commenting during a talk show on NDTV. "The question is whether we send him back alive or dead, in a body bag. The choice is up us in the land of the Mahatama."
Mr Bhatt recalled that Pakistan had released the Indian prisoner Gopal Das following an appeal from the Indian Supreme Court, and stressed that India should show similar large heartedness.The People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), India, which has been at the forefront of the campaign to free Dr Chishty, has in a press statement appreciated the Supreme Court orders, but points out that the bail, while "an extremely significant step... is not sufficient as bail for Dr Chishty as seen earlier when the trial was underway for 19 years, was like house arrest."
PUCL also reminds readers that the Indian Constitution provides an executive remedy for the issue, as the President or the Governor of a State may grant mercy "to an individual at any stage of the judicial process". This remedy has been continuously "stalled by the Governor of Rajasthan, who despite being recommended twice by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan that Dr Chishty be pardoned, the Governor only let the file gather dust."
"We take this opportunity in the interest of justice as well as strengthening further the relationships between the two countries and urge the Governor Sh. Shivraj Patil to sign the Mercy Petition," urges PUCL.
Dr Chishty's son is expected to arrive in India on April 14, 2012, to pursue the case. Across both sides of the border, people are praying for the elderly virologist to be allowed to return to Pakistan - alive.
- Beena Sarwar
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Pakistan, India to deny terrorists space
Foreign secretary-level talks leave room for optimism
Mariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan says the Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks held on .....more
Foreign secretary-level talks leave room for optimismMariana Baabar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan says the Indo-Pak foreign secretary-level talks held on .....more
Indian Home Minister arrives in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram arrived here Friday to attend SAARC Home Ministers' conference to be held on June 26.
Interior Minister A. Rehman Ma .....more
ISLAMABAD: Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram arrived here Friday to attend SAARC Home Ministers' conference to be held on June 26.Interior Minister A. Rehman Ma .....more
Queen's Baton handed over to India as kids exchange handkerchiefs
WAGHA: The torch of XIX Commonwealth Games, Queen's Baton Relay, has been handed over to host nation India in a glaring and sparkling ceremony at Wagha Border on early Fr
.....more
WAGHA: The torch of XIX Commonwealth Games, Queen's Baton Relay, has been handed over to host nation India in a glaring and sparkling ceremony at Wagha Border on early Fr
.....more
Queen's Baton Relay arrives Wagha Border
LAHORE: The Commonwealth Games torch Queen's Baton Relay for the XIX event, to be held in India, has arrived at Wagha Border, which will enter India from here, Geo news r
.....more
LAHORE: The Commonwealth Games torch Queen's Baton Relay for the XIX event, to be held in India, has arrived at Wagha Border, which will enter India from here, Geo news r
.....more
CG torch to get colorful welcome at Wagah border
KARACHI: The torch of Commonwealth Games (CG), symbolizing the ardent flame of the participating players and athletes' spirit, will pass along Pakistan's Wagah border Fri
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Pak-India for joint efforts towards trust building
ISLAMABAD: Top Indian and Pakistani diplomats pledged Thursday to strive for sustained dialogue to get the nations' fragile relations back on track and deny militants spa
.....more
ISLAMABAD: Top Indian and Pakistani diplomats pledged Thursday to strive for sustained dialogue to get the nations' fragile relations back on track and deny militants spa
.....more Page 146 of 174
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The News on Sunday Special Report: India Pakistan prisoners
We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
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For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
The Jang Group has entered into an agreement with the Times of India Group, the largest media group of India, to campaign for peace betw
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