Aaghaz-e-Dosti released Indo-Pak prisoners’ list

PRESS RELEASE

INDO-PAK PRISONERS’ LIST ISSUED BY AAGHAZ-E-DOSTI

In view of building trust, Aaghaz-e-Dosti is releasing the details of the Indian and Pakistani prisoners lodged in each other’s jail. This is probably the first time when any such detailed list will be made public. By this, we hope to facilitate transparency as well as to sensitize people on both sides about each other’s pain and towards the larger goal of peace and humanity.

Around 250-300 Indian and Pakistani prisoners are languishing in each other’s prisons. These prisoners also include fishermen.

As we see, their fate seems to be tied to “goodwill” gestures. Their fate is directly impacted by the Indo-Pak relations yet we do not know anything about them other than their numbers. They are reduced to statistics. Also, there may be unfortunate cases wherein the family of the prisoner may not be aware about his/her whereabouts and may still be searching. They may also be unaware of the crime under which he/she may have been booked.

Aaghaz-e-Dosti is a committed initiative that works to foster peace and friendship between these two countries. We aim to challenge mutual suspicion and distrust. We aim to aware people on both sides about each other’s pain.

Aaghaz-e-Dosti has accessed the details regarding their status, name and FIR under which they are detained.  According to the list available for Pakistani prisoners lodged in Indian jails, there are 238 prisoners and 107 fishermen as on 1 July 2013. The list for Indian prisoners, who are behind bars in Pakistan, will be released within a month.

The list is available at Aaghaz-e-Dosti blog link https://aaghazedosti.wordpress.com/indo-pak-prisoners/

DATA ANALYSIS

Pakistani fishermen data

Some shocking facts emerged from the fishermen data. From the total list of 107 fishermen, there are 46 fishermen (approx 43% of total arrested fishermen) for whom the offence was not registered till 01.07.2013 in spite of their arrest date 07 Jan 2013 (of 14 fishermen) and 22.02.2013 (of 32 fishermen).  All remaining 61 fishermen were under trial in spite of their arrest in the year 2011 (2 fishermen), 2012 (21 fishermen) and 2013 (38 fishermen).  It means that from among the arrested fishermen, approx 43% are under arrest without registering any offence, while 57% remains under trial.

Pakistani prisoner data

Total 278 pakistani prisoners (excluding fishermen) were lodged in Indian jails as on 01.07.2013.

*Among these prisoners, offence has not been registered for 5 prisoners.

*48 prisoners have completed their sentence but are still lodged. 27 of them are awaiting the nationality confirmation from Pakistan High Commission). Few of them had completed their sentence in 2007/2008. Few others are awaiting NOC from respective Indian states as well as Nationality confirmation from Pakistani High commission.

*6 are acquitted but are still lodged as they are waiting for NOC and Nationality confirmation. Two of them were arrested in 2000.

*1 prisoner faces death sentence

*139 are under trial

*79 are undergoing sentence (including 21 for life sentence)

*There are 11 women prisoners

Action:

Aaghaz-e-Dosti is writing letter to Ministry of external affairs in this regard. Also, it invites suggestions from people of India and Pakistan to make a framework of guidelines that will be submitted to both the government of India and Pakistan for a more fair treatment of these prisoners and fishermen. Aaghaz-e-Dosti is writing to Pakistani High Commission, New Delhi to take up the cases of prisoners who are lodged in jails here even after completing sentence only due to awaiting confirmation of nationality.

 

Press Release issued by

Devika Mittal and Aliya Harir

Convenors

Aaghaz-e-Dosti

For further queries, mail us at aaghazedosti@gmail.com

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