ISLAMABAD: The governments of India and Pakistan on Saturday exchanged lists of prisoners in line with an international agreement signed by both countries, according to which there are 417 Pakistanis languishing in Indian prisons, the foreign office said in a statement.
The two neighboring arch-rivals exchange the lists of prisoners in each other’s custody on January 1 and July 1 every year in pursuance of the Agreement on Consular Access, signed by both sides on May 21, 2008.
Under the deal, Pakistan and India are required to inform their respective foreign missions about any arrests, detentions, or imprisonments of each other’s nationals immediately and provide consular access to them within three months. Both sides are also required to either release or repatriate the prisoners within one month of the confirmation of their national status and the completion of their sentences.
“Consistent with the provisions of the 2008 Agreement on Consular Access, the Government of Pakistan today handed over a list of 308 Indian prisoners in Pakistan (42 civilian prisoners and 266 fishermen) to the High Commission of India in Islamabad,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement on Saturday.
“The Government of India handed over the list of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails to Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi, according to which, there are a total of 417 Pakistanis in Indian jails (343 civilian prisoners and 74 fishermen).”
Pakistan said it had urged the Indian government to release and repatriate all Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen who have completed their respective sentences and whose national status stood confirmed.
In case the arrests or detentions are made on political or security grounds, according to the deal, each side may examine the case on its merits. In special cases, which call for or require compassionate and humanitarian considerations, the two countries can exercise their discretion in accordance with their laws and allow early release and repatriation.
