PRESS RELEASE
KARACHI, Sep 14: A bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan headed by Chief Justice Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry on Tuesday ordered the government to complete the trial of 128 under trial Indian fishermen within six weeks.
The Supreme Court disposed of the constitution petition jointly filed by Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) and Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) to challenge the continuing detention as well as arrest, prosecution, conviction of 582 Indian Fisherman in various Jails of Sindh. Sayed Iqbal Haider, senior advocate of the Supreme Court appeared on behalf of the petitioners in the Supreme Court.
The Interior Ministry submitted a detailed report before the Supreme Court stating that the government has already released 442 Indian fishermen, who had completed their terms in the jails and they have already been sent back to their homes.
Earlier on 12th August 2010, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had issued notices of the said petition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan as well as Home Department, Government of Sindh, and had required them to disclosed under what legal provision or lawful Authority, the 582 Indian Fisherman, named in the Constitution Petition, were arrested, prosecuted, convicted and later detained after completion of their sentences.
On the last date of hearing i.e 26th August 2010, the Supreme Court was informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan that they it has already informed the Ministry of Interior of Pakistan to release the detained 456 Indian Fisherman, who have completed their sentences and their nationality has been confirmed by the Indian high commission. The Supreme Court had ordered repeat of the notice to the Ministry of Interior as to why these detained Indian fisherman are not being released and repatriated to India.
Shujauddin Qureshi
Senior Research Associate
Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER),
Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi-75340
Ph: +(92-21) 36351145-7
Fax: +(92-21) 36350345
Cell: +(92)300-3929788
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment