India always violates treaty on prisoners, NA told

[S_O_C_O_M]

India always violates treaty on prisoners, NA told​

By Ijaz Kakakhel

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday said that despite the existence of a bilateral treaty, India was not honouring it completely and has denied counsellor access to the detained Pakistani fishermen.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan informed the House that Pakistan had released 562 Indian prisoners, while only 152 Pakistanis had been released by India. He said Pakistan had raised these issues at several forums, but to no avail, adding that even the Pakistani prime minister had raised these issues with his Indian counterpart. Composite dialogue between Pakistan and India had not been held following the Mumbai incident, he said while answering a question regarding the release of Pakistani prisoners by India. “We cannot force India to start dialogue,” he added.

The state minister said that following the judiciary’s instructions, the government had to release Indian prisoners after completion of their sentences, while India held the Pakistani prisoners beyond their terms. Apart from this, the Indian government also violated international rules and mistreated the Pakistani prisoners and tortured them.

It is pertinent to mention here that on May 25, 2008, the two countries had signed an agreement regarding counsellor access during the Indian foreign affairs minister’s visit to Islamabad at the time of the fourth round of composite dialogue. The agreement was an upgrade of the 1982 protocol, which covered the same subject. The agreement makes it obligatory upon both governments to “maintain a comprehensive list of nationals of the other country under its arrest, detention or imprisonment”, and the lists are to be exchanged on Jan 1 and July 1 every year.

To another question regarding terrorists’ infiltration from Afghanistan and carrying out terrorist activities in the Tribal Areas and other parts of the country, the state minister said the government had taken up the issue at various forums with Afghanistan.

Regarding the main objectives of the foreign policy, he said it could not be changed overnight and maintained focus on keeping positive relations with neighbouring countries, focus on Afghanistan and development in the ongoing war on terrorism. With Iran, he said Pakistan had good relations and sought early finalisation of the gas pipeline agreement to meet the shortage in the country. The minister added that Pakistan was in regular contact with “world powers”, including the US, UK, EU, regarding several issues.

Labourers: In a written replay to the National Assembly, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Pakistani missions in the Middle East extended a number of facilities to Pakistani labourers, including counsellor services, legal assistance and pursuing matters for their welfare. The minister wrote that the labourers had also been assisted in settlement of their disputes with employers. He added that the embassies regularly interacted with host governments for providing better facilities to the Pakistani community. They also intervened where there was violation of labour laws against the labourers, Qureshi said.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[muse]

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan informed the House that Pakistan had released 562 Indian prisoners, while only 152 Pakistanis had been released by India

So why did Pakistan release such a large number for Indians only to receive such a small number of Pakistanis?? Isn't that due to the incompetence of the Pakistani authorities??

Instead of complaining like the pathetic incompetent idiots that they are, why not ensure that the next release will be for exact numbers, and why not invite Indian media to highlight the plight of those Indians who will not be released - due to the intransigence of Indian authorities, of course??

 

[StingRoy]

This article does not make sense until we know exactly how many prisoners are in the jails on both sides. A numerical comparison is pointless here.

I recollect a similar article was being discussed in this forum a few months back.

 

[muse]

What are you suggesting that there are peoples in jail in India and Pakistan and the authorities do not know their nationality?

The one for one is not the ends we seek, it is a means -- the ends we OUGHT to seek is the release of all prisoners (usually the poor and the stupid) who have not been charged and convicted of committing serious crimes.

 

[StingRoy]

No I meant the article does not tell us exactly how many prisoners are there in each others jails hence comparing the figures of prisoner releases does not make sense. We may not have as many Pakistani prisoners as you have.

Anyways... I agree that authorities should either file charges and move on with the case or release them immediately. Usually a large chunk of these prisoners are fishermen who have strayed into each others territorial waters.