Fwd: [PMARC] 6 Rajasthanis cross Wagah border after more than a decade and half in Jail in Pakistan

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: kavisriv <kavisriv@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Subject: [PMARC] 6 Rajasthanis cross Wagah border after more than a decade and half in Jail in Pakistan

Dear friends,

There is good news after a very long time. Remember I had written to all of you on the 17th of April regarding the death of two, one Indian and one Nepali of a total of 14 prisoners who were on hunger strike in Kot Lakhpat Jail, demanding that they be sent home. Well, we just learnt that the six who were from Barmer and Jasialmer (Rajasthan, India) who had spent between 12 years and 20 years) in various prisons in Pakistan, crossed the border at 11 am today. This was confirmed by the Member of Parliament Harish Chaudhary from Barmer - Jaislamer constituency who was at the border then. He had worked very hard with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of India on this. He had personally spoken to the Minister which has played an important role in the Indian side accepting them.

For the six Koja Khan, Binja Ram, Miru Aaklu khan, Anwar Khan, Isra Ram Meghwal all from Barmer and Jamaluddin from Jaisalmer it will be a new life. They had all over stayed their sentences due to the politics between the two countries where human life is traded. However, I hope there will be no looking back for them now. I was also told Mr. Harish Chaudhary that the six will going straight home. Actually when I spoke to him the six were just sitting in taxis and leaving for home. It will take more than 18 hours to get to Jaislamer and Barmer. Due to the presence of Harish Bhai the six were able to clear the formalities soon. Otherwise we all know that it sometimes takes a month or two for the person to be back home.

Kudos to all friends in Pakistan and India who helped get these prisoners out. It gives us a new hope that the three others Bhag Singh, Tila Ram and Sahu Ram from Barmer, whose whereabouts in Pakistan are not known will also be located and get a chance to be back home.

Let us continue striving for the quick return of Indians and Pakistanis back to the comfort of their homes rather than be made to throw their lives away by simply languishing in the various jails across the two countries. I know that I have a list of more than 50 Pakistani Prisoners who are in various jails in India and we need to collectively get them out.

Thanks once again to all. Mr. Harish Chaudhary, Member of Parliament, can be contacted on +919414106999 who is still at the border just now as I am writing to you.

Kavita Srivastava ( General Secretary, PUCL, Rajasthan)

I have been pursuing along with others the release of six prisoners from Rajasthan who have since the last ten to fifteen years been in various Pakistani Jails, having completed their sentences several years ago. In their case we have been in touch with the Ministry of homen Affairs. We are expecting their release for a while, but all of us know that the prisoners on the two sides are a victim of the hositilies onthe sides and the two countries are the biggest violators of law when it comes to depriving citizens of either sides of their civil liberties.

I will send you the details of the six prisoners of Rajasthan.

This is a request to Asad or Brigadier sahab from HRCP to go to Kot Lakhpat jail today and enquire into the details. I think we cannot allow anymore casualties due to the ongoing hunger strike of these prisoners which perhaps is falling on deaf ears. We must assure them that we will take it up at the highest level and try getting them out.

Please respond urgently, this is a matter of life and death for the 13 who are still sitting on fast.

Kavita

On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 9:31 AM, asad jamal <asadjamal2006@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear All,

Your help in Ateeq's case was crucial for which I can not thank you enough.

Here is another story:

Nauman Arshad, a ninth class student, is in Faridkot juvenile home.

His father has died. The boy's family, mother and other kids, moved to Lahore from southern Punjab city of Vehari, five months back, and have been living in Baghbanpura area of Lahore with maternal uncle, Asif. The boy reportedly crossed over to India around the same time as Ateeq did, which makes me suspect that there is something more to such incidents. (Ateeq says he was kidnapped by two men when he was walking toward the Ravi bridge, the road after leads to Wagah.)

I've contacted Advocate Navkiran Singh (Chandigarh) whose chamber pursues HR cases. In fact, he called the family on their land line a couple of days back, one can guess that the no. could only be given to him by the boy. But the family came to know about the boy's arrest in India even earlier through a news item printed in daily Nawa-i-Waqt's local edition which had picked a news item on some Indian news media. What I have been able to gather is that the boy has been charged with some serious offence, though I am not too sure.

Let me also mention that Ateeq told me that the Pakistan Hi Commission offical who escorted him to Wagah had told him that Nauman Arshad had been taken to Farid Kot juvenile jail. We are arranging for documents to be despatched to Advocate Navkiran Singh, and though Interior Ministry and Pak Rangers have already been informed but nothing concrete has happened.

Mr. Navkiran Singh's no. is 0091-9814411494. It seems he'l to be more helpful. His associate advocate Mr. Bhattia may visit the boy today.

His office address:

NAVKIRAN SINGH & ASSOCIATES, LAWYERS AND CONSULTANTS, No. 516 , SECTOR 11-B,

CHANDIGARH -160011, INDIA.

PH :91-172-2746122 FAX :91-172-2749022 Cell :91-98144-11494

e-mail: navkiran@singhlawyers.com web site : www.singhlawyers.com

Moreover, Ateeq has also informed that he also met the following four other boys in Hoshiarpur juvenile home/jail, who have been caught by Indian security forces around the same time.

1. Bilal: from Karachi

2. Rashid: is from Sindh;

3. Adnan: is from Shakargarh (he gave his incorrect address)

4. Rafaqat: Ateeq says he is mentally ill and suffering from TB; he was taken to hospital while Ateeq was there.

This is strange so many boys of same age group have crossed over to India around the same time. Is there something more sinister at work?

I'l appreciate for any information and assistance in helping the kids return to their families. I am aware hundreds of fisherfolk are caught in the sea waters of India and Pakistan including many children. Can we think of some common forum to help them?

sincerely,

--
Asad Jamal

--

Kavita Srivastava
(General Secretary) PUCL Rajasthan

Address for correspondence :

76, Shanti Niketan Colony, Kisan Marg, Barkat Nagar, Jaipur-302015
Tel. 0141-2594131
mobile: 9351562965

--
Kavita Srivastava
(General Secretary) PUCL Rajasthan

Address for correspondence :

76, Shanti Niketan Colony, Kisan Marg, Barkat Nagar, Jaipur-302015
Tel. 0141-2594131
mobile: 9351562965

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