Consular access for 102 Indian prisoners in Pakistan

Pakistan is likely to give consular access to 102 Indian prisoners later this month who are lodged in Karachi and Rawalpindi jails. This means that they will be able to communicate with Indian diplomats and officers.

On January 1, India and Pakistan had shared lists of the prisoners they have in their jails who belong to the other country. While 249 Pakistani prisoners and 98 fishermen are in India's custody, Pakistan has 54 Indian prisoners and 483 fishermen.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, 396 Indians are languishing in Pakistani jails even though they have served their sentences. It is not clear if these Indians are getting consular access.

Under a 2008 agreement, the two neighbours exchange prisoners' lists on January 1 and July 1 every year.

Earlier, both sides cleared each other's pending diplomatic and official visas.

In December, Pakistan had released Indian citizen Hamid Ansari, who was arrested by Pakistan in 2012, after he had gone to Pakistan on a fake passport to meet a girl he had befriended on Facebook. It was followed by the release of 2 Pakistani nationals by India — Imran Warsi and Abdullah Shah.

PRISONER PARLAYS

• According to MEA, 396 Indians are languishing in Pakistani jails after serving their sentences. 
   
• Under a 2008 deal, the two nations exchange prisoners’ lists on Jan 1 and July 1