SC orders speedy trial of Pakistan prisoners

New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the trial courts to dispose of within nine months the cases of the Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian jails without trial for a long time.

According to the government, there are 50 such prisoners. Some of them are in Jammu and Kashmir jails, while other are lodged in jails in other parts of the country.

A bench comprising Justices B N Agarwal and P P Naolekar issued the directions after hearing Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh, who is the petitioner in the case.

Earlier, Mr Singh had contended that many among the prisoners hailing from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have been languishing in jails for over a decade now without trial, and hence either they should be deported to Pakistan or the trial should be concluded expeditiously.

According to the government, out of 52 such prisoners two have already been deported to Pakistan and most of the prisoners are facing serious charges of terrorism and murder and extortion threatening the integrity of the country.

UNI