Friday, October 14, 2011

8 Indian prisoners on hunger strike in Lahore jail, seek early release

AMRITSAR: Perturbed over the unusual delay in their release, eight Indian prisoners have gone on fast in Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore, Pakistan, demanding their immediate release.

Talking to TOI over phone from Lahore on Thursday, counsel for Indian death sentence awardees Sarabjit Singh (also lodged in Kot Lakhpat jail), Awais Sheikh said that Khakhi Hussain, Satinder Pal, Surjit Singh, Ram Rai, Waryam Khan, Om Parkash, Musallim Deenand and Nazir Hussani, all Indian nationals, have been sitting on a fast since October 5.

"Their jail sentences came to an end long ago but are yet to be released," he said. The jail authorities were yet to receive the identification papers of these prisoners from Indian high commission before they could start the repatriation process, he said, adding that he had visited the jail to meet the prisoners sitting on hunger strike.

He said he had sent the papers of agitating prisoners to Indian high commission for necessary action. "I have received identification papers of three prisoners while those of others were yet to be received" he said.

Awais suggested that Indian high commission should expedite the completion of identity verification process which includes verification by concerned police station in India where the prisoner had been living.

Meanwhile, Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit Singh, said that Kot Lakhpat jail authorities had banned meeting of any outsider or jail inmate with Sarabjit ever since her return from Pakistan on July 5. "Only once, Awais Sheikh had met him, who informed that Sarabjit had gone under depression," she said.

The Pakistan high court had also turned down the request of Awais Sheikh to teach yoga to his client in jail so that he could overcome depression and other physical ailments.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/8-Indian-prisoners-on-hunger-strike-in-Lahore-jail-seek-early-release/articleshow/10348597.cms
accessed on 14th October 2011
Yudhvir RanaYudhvir Rana, TNN | Oct 14, 2011, 06.21AM IST

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