A Pakistani rights body has asked the government to pay compensation to Indian prisoners who continue to languish in the country's jails even after serving their sentence.

Commending the steps taken by the governments of India and Pakistan leading to exchange of around 1,000 prisoners between 2004 and 2006, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan chairman Asma Jahangir said this had improved the situation of hundreds of prisoners held in prisons of the two countries.

But she urged the Pakistan government to pay compensation to the Indian prisoners who continued to be held even after serving their sentences.

Pakistani prisoners who are still in Indian jails despite completing their sentence must be freed as ruled by the Punjab and Haryana high court in Chandigarh in April 2006, she said in a statement.

Particularly significant, she said is the court's order to compensate the prisoners with Rs 10,000 for every extra year they had spent in prison after completing their sentence.

HRCP is pleased with the compensation to be given to the prisoners, some of whom had spent up to 12 extra years, and urged Pakistani authorities to compensate Indian prisoners in a similar way.

The rights body also strongly recommended that both the countries appoint human rights counsellors at their high commissions to supervise issues such as welfare of prisoners and recommend that a human rights monitoring body, consisting of members from civil society and representatives from human rights institutions be established.

This would ensure implementation of decisions regarding exchange of prisoners and other matters such as basic rights and human dignities.

"In this respect, there are some issues that need to be addressed urgently. 18 Indian civilian prisoners, detained in Kot Lakhpat Jail, whose nationalities have been confirmed and their travel documents are ready with the Indian High Commission, need to be sent back to India immediately," she said.

The same holds true for fishermen still detained in the countries despite agreements by which they were to be freed and returned home immediately, she said adding, HRCP has been informed that 282 Indian fishermen, including two children aged less than 12 years, were waiting to be sent back from Karachi.

Dozens of Pakistani fishermen are also held in India. "HRCP demands the decisions regarding fishermen who stray out of territorial waters be adhered to and that they be set free," she said. Counselling should be granted to prisoners in both the countries, she added.

Also Read:
Sarabjit Saga