News
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Pak prisoners languishing in foreign jails : SC summons three federal secretaries* Additional attorney general says govt facing difficulties
in prisoners’ return due to financial constraintsISLAMABAD: A three-member Supreme Court bench on Monday summoned the federal secretaries of interior, foreign affairs and finance on May 20 asking them to inform the court about the steps taken for repatriation of Pakistani prisoners languishing in jails abroad.
The bench comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa issued the directives while hearing the missing persons’ case. The court ordered that cases of all missing persons be sent to the judicial commission.
However, Amna Masood Janjua, the Defence of Human Rights chairwoman, expressed dissatisfaction over the functioning of the judicial commission. Justice Javed said the commission had been assigned to work on the recovery of the missing persons and it had begun its work. The court also expressed dissatisfaction over a Foreign Ministry report on the Pakistani nationals imprisoned in Thailand and Afghanistan, observing that the report did not mention the steps taken for the prisoners’ release.
It noted that the Finance Ministry had not yet been approached to arrange finances for securing the prisoners’ release. Justice Javed observed that it was the government’s responsibility to make serious efforts for the release and repatriation of Pakistani prisoners abroad.
“If they have committed any offence, they should be given legal assistance and if they have already undergone their sentences, they should be brought back,” he said.
Financial constraints: However, Additional Attorney General KK Agha informed the court that the government was facing difficulties in repatriation of the Pakistani prisoners abroad due to financial constraints.
Justice Tariq said the government or the NGO sector should provide funds for the prisoners’ repatriation. The court asked the AAG if there was any exchange mechanism with the Thai government, to which Agha replied in the negative. He said about 145 Pakistanis had been detained in Thai jails. Justice Javed also observed that 127 Pakistanis were detained in Afghanistan, but no formal complaint had been lodged with the Afghan authorities.
The AAG apprised the court of the situation of about 425 Pakistanis detained in Malaysia. Justice Javed said some senior officials must be held responsible for neglecting the case.
Clarifying the government’s stance, Agha said Pakistani missions abroad had been asked to ascertain legalities “but we’re facing financial problems”. To a court query, Agha said the Interior Ministry needs time to communicate with the countries where Pakistanis are detained. masood rehman/app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk