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PILER urges Indian authorities to release 72 Pakistani fishermen, languishing in Indian jails

by PILER, 22 October 2010

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Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER),
- Gulshan e Maymar, Karachi 75340
- Ph: +(92—21) 36351145—7
- Fax: +(92—21) 36350345
- Cell: +(92)300—3929788
- URL: www.piler.org.pk

PRESS RELEASE

PILER urges Indian authorities to release 72 Pakistani fishermen, languishing in Indian jails.

Karachi, 22 October 2010: Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) on Friday urged the Indian authorities to expedite the repatriation of 72 Pakistan fishermen, languishing in Indian jails as Pakistani government has already confirmed their citizenship and verified all the required documents.

In a letter to Mr. Sharat Sabharwal, Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, the PILER Joint Director Mr. Zulfiqar Shah pointed out that civil society in India has already filed a petition in the Indian Supreme Court for the release of all Pakistani fishermen and documentation for repatriation of Pakistani prisoners has been completed.

“Keeping in view this serious human rights issue, we request you to please use your good offices and ask the concerned authorities in India to expedite the process of releasing all these 72 Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails,†a letter sent to Indian envoy in Islamabad stated.

Mr. Shah mentioned the joint constitution petition filed by Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) in the Supreme Court of Pakistan for the release of all the Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails, as a result of that petition, the Pakistan government had released 442 Indian fishermen during the months of August and September, 2010.

Moreover, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had also ordered completion of the trial of the remaining under-trial Indian fishermen within six weeks. In pursuance of that order, the local judiciary has completed the trial of the 142 Indian fishermen and the Judicial Magistrate has asked the Pakistan government to repatriate these fishermen to India.

In the meantime, senior Supreme Court lawyer Senator (R) Iqbal Haider, who appeared on behalf of joint petition of PILER and PFF has written a letter to Indian High Commission to issue the traveling papers for repatriation of Indian prisoners to India. The Indian High Commission has confirmed to Senator Haider that Counselor access has been completed in respect of 95 Indian fishermen, whose nationality has been confirmed by the Indian High Commission, hence they can be repatriated forthwith on receipt of the required travel documents from the Indian Authorities.

The concerned Judicial Magistrate, District West Karachi, Mr. Rasool Bux Mir Jut, on 5th October, 2010, convicted the under-trial Indian Fishermen to a nominal sentence and fine, with the order that the under trial period should be counted against the period of the sentence, and that since these prisoners have completed the sentence, the government should expedite their repatriation to India.

The Indian High Commission had further informed Senator Haider that they have requested the Pakistan Foreign Office to allow Counselor access to confirm the Nationality of the remaining Indian Fishermen who have been convicted now, as well as to confirm Nationality of the remaining 12 Indian fishermen who are most unfortunately still detained in the prisons of Sindh Province. Senator Haider had contacted the Secretary Home Department Government of Sindh and The Pakistan Foreign Office to expedite these formalities and ensure that all these Indian Fishermen are repatriated to India without any undue delay.