Pak, India swap prisoners lists

ISLAMABAD, July 2: The neighbouring Asian nuclear capable countries Pakistan and India on Monday swapped lists of their prisoners confined in jails.

According to an official of Pakistan foreign ministry, the lists were exchanged under a pact reached between both countries during 2008.

The official said under the pact, access to consular facility is made out, making the prisoners languishing in jails to have contacts with their respective authorities and kin.

The lists were swapped after both countries through a string of hectic diplomatic channels, released a number of prisoners confined in the jails for long periods.

Islamabad has released a large number of Indian fishermen last week, followed by Sarjeet Singh, an Indian spy, held and convicted on charges of espionage, who was deported to India after serving jail term of about 30 years in Lahore.

The latest development comes after the Indian Supreme Court last month had allowed ailing Pakistani Dr Mohammad Khalil Chishti (microbiologist) to travel to his home country on humanitarian grounds.

Dr Chishti had traveled to India in 1992 to see his ailing mother but where he was implicated in a murder case. After an 18-year long trial, he was awarded life imprisonment and sent to the Ajmer jail in January last year.