Punjab urges Centre to return 23 Pakistani prisoners in Amritsar's Jail

NEW DELHI: Urges Centre to hasten process for the return of 23 Pak nationals in Amritsar's Jail

Abdul Sharif, native of Baluchistan, was awarded four months' imprisonment by an Indian court in April 1997 for his failure to renew his passport and visa on which he had come to visit India.

After Sharif completed his sentence, jail authorities shifted him to a “transit“ camp in August 1997 in Central Jail, Amritsar so that he could be “immediately“ deported to Pakistan. Much to Sharif 's chagrin, he continues to live as an “internee“ in the “transit“ camp for the past 17 years. Sharif is among 23 Pakistan nationals, including some fishermen, who despite having completed their sentence awarded to them under relevant sections of Indian law continue to be detained at Amritsar's Central Jail.

A fresh report in this regard was recently sent by Punjab to the Union external affairs ministry, in connection with an ongoing case pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In its report, prepared by the superintendent of Central Jail, the Punjab government has requested the Centre to “facilitate the process of all Pak prisoners lodged at Central Jail Amritsar at the earliest possible“.Punjab government has claimed that “counselling access“ has been made available to all the Pakistan Nationals, yet they are awaiting repatriation to their country .

While a few of them are awaiting “deportation orders“ to be issued by the central government, the others are awaiting supply of necessary documents from the Pakistan government. “The chief problem is that the Pakistan government has not responded to ensure repatriation of these Pak nationals. It is unfortunate that the Pakistan government has not taken the cases of their natives seriously so far,“ a senior jail official told ET, requesting anonymity .