Centre to SC: No consular access to Indian prisoners by Pak

New Delhi, May 12 (UNI) The Indian Government today informed the Supreme Court that Pakistan Government is not cooperating in providing consular access regarding the number of Indian prisoners languishing in Pakistan jails for years.

Response of the Pakistan Government was revealed by Solicitor General of India G E Vahanvati during the hearing of a petition filed by an Indian spy Gopal Das, who has been withering in Mianwali jail in Lahore for over 24 years since July 27, 1984.

The Indian Government accused Pakistan authorities of blocking diplomatic channels in order to thwart its effort in seeking the realease of over 200 Indians, who include spies and prisoners of war and have been languishing in Pakistan jails for years together.

Anand Veer of Faridkot, Punjab, has sent the letter of his brother to the Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on October 10 last year and the apex court sought the response of the Union Government to the letter that accused the Government of callousness in securing the release of Indian prisoners, who have sacrificed their all for the sake of motherland.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and M K Sharma adjourned the hearing till August at the request of the Centre, who pleaded that it was trying to get in touch with the concerned Pakistan authorities and needed some more time to respond. The apex court has, however, not issued notices on the petition till now.

UNI SC GL RP KN1846