news details |
|
|
| Consular Access for 28 Pak Prisoners: Sagar | | Uproar over 'release of militants' | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 25: The State government today said that twenty eight Pakistani prisoners, who were lodged in different jails in the State, have been taken to Amritsar for providing them consular access.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Sagar told the Legislative Assembly that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had vide letter No. 12011/3/2009 -F.III dated 2-03-2010 had on March 2 sent a request for bringing eligible Pakistani prisoners who have not been provided consular access to central Jail Amritsar on March 23. However, the date was re-fixed for March 26.
The Minister said that as per the terms of new agreement regarding consular access, signed between India and Pakistan in 2008, the consular access is to be provided to Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian Jails to enable Pakistani authorities to establish the national status of their prisoners, so as to facilitate their repatriation to Pakistan.
Sagar said that as per the existing guidelines, consular access is to be provided to all Pak prisoners who are under-trails/under-going jail terms or have completed their jail terms and also to the nationals of the country, who do not travel on travel documents or their travel documents have expired (will be expiring) by the time they complete their sentence.
He was clarifying news reports appearing in a section of local press alleging that 28 Pakistan prisoners were being released after the issue was raised by opposition members.
Sagar said that it was in this context that list of 28 Pak prisoners was prepared for providing consular access to them at central Jail, Amritsar today.
He said that out of 28 prisoners, 10 are undertrials, including five terrorists while 17 are undergoing sentence. One of the prisoners has been recommended for deportation after observing all requisite legal formalities.
Earlier, uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Assembly today when the Opposition raised the issue of release and repatriation of 28 Pakistani prisoners, including the Republic Day serial blast accused.
Leader of BJP Legislative Party Chaman Lal Gupta, JKNPP's Harsh Dev Singh, and Ashwani Kumar of Jammu State Morcha (JSM) raised the issue, and demanded a reply from the state government.
The opposition leaders alleged that the Omar Abdullah government was playing with the security of the state and said releasing Pakistani prisoners would encourage cross-border terrorism.
As entire members of BJP, JKNPP and JSM were on their feet shouting slogans against the government, Gupta condemned the decision of the state and the central government.
On another issue raised by PDP member Nizam-ud-Din Bhat regarding separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah, Sagar said that the government has to provide proper security, protection and healthcare to an important leader like Shah.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
