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QUESTION NO.4339 JUDICIAL COMMITTEE MECHANISM FOR RELEASE OF PRISONERS

April 05, 2018

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4339
TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2018

JUDICIAL COMMITTEE MECHANISM FOR RELEASE OF PRISONERS

4339. SHRI A. K. SELVARAJ:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that as a first sign of a thaw between India and Pakistan the neighbours have agreed to release and return elderly prisoners, women and those with special needs;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Pakistan had also accepted Indian proposals on revival of a judicial committee mechanism which would oversee the speedy release of prisoners; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V.K. SINGH (RETD)]


(a) to (d) The External Affairs Minister, in October 2017, suggested to the High Commissioner of Pakistan that the two sides could work together to resolve humanitarian issues related to elderly, women and mentally unsound prisoners in each other’s custody and consider their early release and repatriation. It was, inter alia, proposed that a team of medical experts could be allowed to visit the mentally unsound prisoners with a view to facilitate their nationality verification and subsequent repatriation. The External Affairs Minister also suggested revival of the Joint Judicial Committee which looked into the issues of fishermen and prisoners in each other’s custody and had last met in October 2013.

The Government of Pakistan, on 7 March 2018, responded positively to the suggestion.

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