Editorial
Special Report
The News on Sunday
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 released after the talks. It is the faces of these released prisoners on our television screens and in the next day's newspapers that shock us into doing this Special Report. The news presenters do not need to state the obvious but they do; majority of these prisoners have lost their mental balance, they announce in a mechanical way.
Beyond these news-making decisions (of releasing a few prisoners here and there) which are received with indifference at best, the process goes on, slowly, reported in a piecemeal fashion and hence failing to make an impact. We don't know if the news that Sarabjit, the Indian prisoner on death row in Pakistan, is going to meet his sister after 21 years is part of the process that goes on in the background or is a corollary of the foreign secretary level talks.
Judging by the ordeal that his sister Dalbir Singh had to go through once in Pakistan clearly shows it is part of the process where not even an inch is granted with ease. Dalbir, who was here to meet her brother as the purpose stated on her visa, was refused permission to meet him and had to file a writ petition in the Lahore High Court to do so. Yes, it is as absurd as this.
Talking of courts, the prisoners in these two countries are made to stay in jails even after they have completed sentences on the largely cooked up charges. The Indian Supreme Court took the lead in asking the government to expedite the release of such prisoners. According to Mr Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, member Pakistani-India joint judicial committee on prisoners, the Supreme Court in Pakistan has also taken some good decisions with regard to detainees.
The vice-versa mantra has worked to the advantage of prisoners in another way. Activists and lawyers in the two countries have been working for prisoners of the other country and have managed to help release quite a few of them. All praise to them.
The prisoners' tales are long and harrowing. Newspaper reports alone will not make the impact the way films like Veer Zaara, Ramchand Pakistani and Mammo will. Will the television images of these deranged released people shake our artistes and writers? We believe they should.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Special Report The News on Sunday
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 released after the talks. It is the faces of these released prisoners on our television screens and in the next day's newspapers that shock us into doing this Special Report. The news presenters do not need to state the obvious but they do; majority of these prisoners have lost their mental balance, they announce in a mechanical way.
Beyond these news-making decisions (of releasing a few prisoners here and there) which are received with indifference at best, the process goes on, slowly, reported in a piecemeal fashion and hence failing to make an impact. We don't know if the news that Sarabjit, the Indian prisoner on death row in Pakistan, is going to meet his sister after 21 years is part of the process that goes on in the background or is a corollary of the foreign secretary level talks.
Judging by the ordeal that his sister Dalbir Singh had to go through once in Pakistan clearly shows it is part of the process where not even an inch is granted with ease. Dalbir, who was here to meet her brother as the purpose stated on her visa, was refused permission to meet him and had to file a writ petition in the Lahore High Court to do so. Yes, it is as absurd as this.
Talking of courts, the prisoners in these two countries are made to stay in jails even after they have completed sentences on the largely cooked up charges. The Indian Supreme Court took the lead in asking the government to expedite the release of such prisoners. According to Mr Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, member Pakistani-India joint judicial committee on prisoners, the Supreme Court in Pakistan has also taken some good decisions with regard to detainees.
The vice-versa mantra has worked to the advantage of prisoners in another way. Activists and lawyers in the two countries have been working for prisoners of the other country and have managed to help release quite a few of them. All praise to them.
The prisoners' tales are long and harrowing. Newspaper reports alone will not make the impact the way films like Veer Zaara, Ramchand Pakistani and Mammo will. Will the television images of these deranged released people shake our artistes and writers? We believe they should.
Sunday, July 03, 2011
Dr. Khalil Chishti returns home from India after 20 years
ISLAMABAD: Virologist Dr Mohammed Khalil Chishti has landed in Islamabad from India after spending 20 years in jail via special aircraft sent by President Asif Ali Zardar
.....more
ISLAMABAD: Virologist Dr Mohammed Khalil Chishti has landed in Islamabad from India after spending 20 years in jail via special aircraft sent by President Asif Ali Zardar
.....more
CASE UPDATE...1965 war prisoners from AJK
A Division Bench of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi, comprising Justice Mr. P. Sathasivam and Justice .....more
Indian Supreme Court seeks status report
A Division Bench of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi, comprising Justice Mr. P. Sathasivam and Justice .....more
Sarabjit Singh: Waiting for clemency
On April 3, 2012, Awais Sheikh met another Indian prisoner whose case he has taken on, Sarabjit Singh, initially arrested in 1990 for illegally entering Pakistan. However
.....more
On April 3, 2012, Awais Sheikh met another Indian prisoner whose case he has taken on, Sarabjit Singh, initially arrested in 1990 for illegally entering Pakistan. However
.....more
CASE UPDATES
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to Delhi and Ajmer last weekend brought hope,not just for India-Pakistan re .....more
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 re .....more
Surjit Singh case update
In response to a petition filed for the release of two Indian prisoners, Satinder Paul Singh and Karale Bhanudas who had completed their term of imprisonment but remained
.....more
In response to a petition filed for the release of two Indian prisoners, Satinder Paul Singh and Karale Bhanudas who had completed their term of imprisonment but remained
.....more
Why is Gopal Das free and not Khalil Chishty?
Shivam Vij
India's central government wants him to do it, the Rajasthan government wants him to do it, but Rajasthan's acting Governor Shivraj Patil is not signing .....more
Shivam VijIndia's central government wants him to do it, the Rajasthan government wants him to do it, but Rajasthan's acting Governor Shivraj Patil is not signing .....more
Dr Chishty's family arrives in India, appeals for his release
DrKhalil Chishty's family from Pakistan arrived in India on Nov 17, on a month-long visa, hoping Dr Chishty can go with them when they leave. They have appealed to the Go
.....more
DrKhalil Chishty's family from Pakistan arrived in India on Nov 17, on a month-long visa, hoping Dr Chishty can go with them when they leave. They have appealed to the Go
.....more
Supreme Court expresses shock over Pakistanis in Indian jails, seeks status report
Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed shock and dismay over 2 Pakistanis being kept in Jammu and Kashmir prisons for ove .....more
Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNNNEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday expressed shock and dismay over 2 Pakistanis being kept in Jammu and Kashmir prisons for ove .....more
PUCL letter to CM Rajasthan
Jaipur,
5th September, 2011
Sh. Ashok Gehlot,
Chief Minister,
Government of Rajasthan,
Jaipur - 302001
Subject: Handing over the mercy p .....more
5th September, 2011
Sh. Ashok Gehlot,
Chief Minister,
Government of Rajasthan,
Jaipur - 302001
Subject: Handing over the mercy p .....more
Dr Chishty case update: PUCL urges Rajastan CM to move file
The campaign to free Pakistani virologist Dr Chishty from Indian prison continues
On September 5, 2011, a delegation of People's Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan, .....more
The campaign to free Pakistani virologist Dr Chishty from Indian prison continuesOn September 5, 2011, a delegation of People's Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan, .....more
Bring Dr Chishty home - alive
An elderly, bed-ridden man sentenced to life imprisonment in an 'enemy' country for a murder he didn't commit awaits the signature on his clemency petition
.....more
An elderly, bed-ridden man sentenced to life imprisonment in an 'enemy' country for a murder he didn't commit awaits the signature on his clemency petition.....more
A constitutional and legal response to the Governor's objections
Supreme Court Senior Advocate Dr Rajeev Dhawan has addressed the constitutional and legal issues raised by the Governor Rajasthan
In "Further comments o .....more
Supreme Court Senior Advocate Dr Rajeev Dhawan has addressed the constitutional and legal issues raised by the Governor Rajasthan
In "Further comments o .....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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