Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastagir Khan on Tuesday said there were 460 Pakistanis languishing in Indian jails and counselor access had been sought to them.
Responding calling attention notice in the Upper House on behalf of Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, the minister said the ministry was working on priority basis to resolve the issue and had sought from the Indian government the counselor access to these prisoners with the efforts of High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi.
He said in 2008, Pakistan and India signed an agreement regarding counselor access, making it obligatory upon both governments to maintain a comprehensive list of nationals of the other country under its arrest, detention or imprisonment.
As per the agreement, he said the lists of prisoners were exchanged on Jan 1 and July 1 every year, adding the list provided by the Indian side confirmed that 271 Pakistan were languishing in their jails, thus leaving difference of 189 persons.
However, he added that there were no missing person on prisoners’ list and the difference in number emerged following Pakistani side prepared a comprehensive list in light of information acquired from different sources or some of prisoners were released on bail or they returned to Pakistan without information the High Commission.
Similarly, he added, the Indian side’s list reflected names of 20 prisoners, but these were not present on Pakistani list, thus, he said these issues were being settled.
He said Pakistan High Commission was making all out efforts for welfare of those prisoners and their issues were being resolved.