Relatives seek release of Pak prisoners languishing in Indian jails

Islamabad, Dec. 22 (ANI): Relatives of Pakistani prisoners, who have completed their terms in Indian jails, have urged Islamabad to ask New Delhi to release them.

Addressing a press conference here, activist Ilyas Qasmi and prisoners' relatives said there were at least 32 prisoners awaiting repatriation to Pakistan even after the Indian Supreme Court had ordered their release.

Qasmi, who himself remained in an Indian jail for 13 years after he inadvertently crossed the Line of Control in 1992, said that the health of 38-year-old Shafiq Shahid Malik is deteriorating fast in a Jodhpur jail.

The Dawn quoted Qasmi, as saying that Malik was convicted in an illegal border crossing case and awarded a four-year sentence 15 years ago.

Qasmi said that another detainee Mithoo, 85, was fighting for life and had lost mental balance.

Similarly, Haji Iqbal was in jail for the past nine years and had completed his term of seven years two years ago.

He said that relatives of some prisoners had approached the Foreign Office and Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi several times but each time they were given false hopes.

Nawaz Siddique of Rawalpindi sought release of his brother, Lance Naik Abdul Rehman, who went missing from the Chamb Jorian sector while patrolling during the 1965 war. (ANI)