Pakistan, India agree to exchange list of prisoners
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan and India Wednesday decided to exchange a consolidated list of the prisoners with full particulars and their present status of nationals in each others’ jails by March 31 this year.
It was agreed after the first meeting of Pakistan-India Joint Judicial Committee on prisoners held in New Delhi, said the Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq in his weekly briefing today. The Pak-India Joint Judicial Committee, was formed in January 2007 by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan and the External Affairs Minister of India to recommend steps for humane treatment and expeditious release of prisoners of the respective countries in each other’s jails.
The members of the Committee are Justice (Retd) Mr. Abdul Qadeer Chaudhry, Justice (Retd) Mr. Fazal Karim, Justice (Retd) Mr. Nasir Aslam Zahid, and Justice (Retd) Mian Muhammad Ajmal from Pakistan and Justice (Retd) Mr. Nagendra Rai, Justice (Retd) Mr. Amarjeet Choudhry, Justice (Retd) Mr. A.S. Gill and Justice (Retd) Mr. M.A. Khan from the Indian side.
The spokesman said the Committee recommended to the two government that prisoners who have completed their sentences and whose national status has been verified be released forthwith. There are 450 Pakistanis are in Indian jails while 500 Indian jails are in Pakistani jails, said the Spokesman. He said since 2003 Pakistan has released 2,857 Indian prisoners while India has released 827 Pakistani prisoners.
The spokesman said the Joint Judicial Committee has also recommended that as agreed between the two governments, those fishermen in custody whose nationality status is confirmed be released forthwith and in remaining cases, consular access be provided by March 31st this year.
It was also recommended by the Committee that all efforts be made to arrange early release of all those prisoners, accused or convinced of minor offences, once their nationality status is confirmed and each country may immediately notify the other of the arrest of its nationals and provide consular access expeditiously.
The Committee also decided to take special consideration, on compassionate and humanitarian basis, be accorded to women, juvenile and disabled prisoners for their repatriation. The spokesman said the Committee also agreed to visit jails in Pakistan in April 2008 on dates agreed through diplomatic channels and it would be followed by a return visit to Indian jails.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said the mechanics to deal the cases of arrested fishermen at local level still in tact and added that the Joint Judicial Committee would expedite such cases. Referring to recent statement of Indian President, the spokesman said the last series of meetings under the composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India were held in last November.
Answering a question about next meeting between Pakistan and India, the spokesman said the dates for the review meeting of the 4th round of talks at Foreign Secretary level followed by a ministerial review meeting would be held in Islamabad in nest few weeks.
He said 5th round of talks between Pakistan and India will start immediately after conclusion of the 4th round. He said schedule for these meetings is being discussed through diplomatic channels.
Leaders of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference has said that the Indian army was enticing Kashmiri youth to join troops and paramilitary troops and termed it as a deep rooted “conspiracy” to pitch Kashmiris against each other.
“They (government) want to engage us in a fight against each other,” said senior Hurriyat (M) leader Shabir Ahmad Shah. He said the army doesn’t actually want to provide employment but it is a deep rooted conspiracy.