Govt should conditionalise release of five Americans with Dr. Aafia’s return: senator
ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee for interior Chairman Senator Talha Mehmood has urged the government to conditioanlise the release of five detained US citizens with the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, adding, India is not showing positive response in exchange to Pakistan’ move releasing Indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture.
Addressing a press conference along with senator Neelofar Bakhtiar and families of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails here on Friday, he sought the report from the interior ministry about number of plate of private vehicles issued to ambassadors to different countries, including the United States and number of bullet-proof vehicles with ambassadors.
“US not happy with Pakistan despite that it has become a key partner in the war on terror”, he added.
According to him, inhuman treatment is being meted out to Pakistani prisoners and, therefore, the human rights organizations, including the United Nations should take notice of it, adding, India is not giving positive response to Pakistani move and released only 31 Pakistani prisoners.
Talha said the parliamentarians should be included in the Legal Aid Committee He said that there are numerous Pakistanis languishing in Indian jails besides the registered 850 prisoners, while only 600 Indians are in Pakistani jails.
Condemning treatment of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui by US officials, he demanded her immediate shifting to private place from jail because torture has disturbed her mentally.
He stressed the government to make conditional the extradition of five US Americans detained in connection of terror planning with the return of Dr. Afia Siddiqui, warning, if the government deported these Americans instead of committee prohibition, then it would submit adjournment motion against it and wouldn’t be tolerated at any cost.
The senator said if the US wanted to improve its image among Pakistanis, then it should change its policies and stop mistreatment of Pakistanis, adding, the war on terror has destroyed our security and economy.
He urged the government to secure respect, honor and sovereignty of the country and establish relations with the US on equality basis.
Senator Neelofar Bakhtiar said there are about 850 Pakistanis, including 152 fishermen in Indian jails and India is not giving access to Pakistani counselor and urged the government to make conditional the release of Indian prisoners to that of Pakistanis. Stressing the government to adopt strict stance over martyrdom of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails, she said this issue should be included in the agenda of talks with India.
She pointed out that several Pakistanis are still languishing in Indian jails instead of Indian Supreme Court orders and urged both the countries to make powerful the joint Legal Aid Committee and also constitute medical aid committee for provision of medical facilities to prisoners.
She alleged that Pakistani prisoners are being killed in Indian jails through slow poisoning and urged the human rights organizations and Indian parliamentarians to play role for release of prisoners.
SOURCE: Onlinenews.com.pk
