Recently, a committee was organised consisting of retired judges and with the subject to exchange prisoners who had inadvertently crossed the border. Most of them are farmers and fishermen by their profession. There are thousands of prisoners in the jails of each country. They are in pathetic conditions. Many prisoners have lost the last hope of life and to meet their loved ones and to see their sweet homeland. Moreover, they have no access to prove their innocence before court. A Pakistani prisoner, released recently, tells a story that there are many prisoners in Indian jails whose sentences had completed but due to lack of legal assistance they are still there.
Bilateral relations are very important to improve human right conditions in the region. The authorities of both countries badly need to sit together to solve such issues. Leadership of both sides discusses economy and terrorism related issues but they do not know that lives are more precious than anything. The NGOs and human rights commissions of both countries do not seem active in this regard. They should visit jails of each country and ask prisoners about their heath, residence, food served in the jails etc.
MUHAMMAD IJAZ CHAICH
Narowal
