With Sanaullah’s body having been flown back to Pakistan, India again called for both sides to renew their efforts at ensuring humane treatment to prisoners in each other’s jails.
The Ministry of External Affairs, while regretting Sanaullah’s death after a brutal assault in a Jammu prison on May 3, said the previous deaths of two Indians in Pakistani jails along with this latest incident underlined the need to “urgently examine” the recommendations submitted by the Joint Judicial Committee that had visited Pakistani jails from April 26 to May 1 this year.
Both sides should take stock of the measures in place for ensuring safety, security and humane treatment of prisoners. “We would like to reiterate the offer made by us on May 3, calling for a meeting with the relevant Pakistani authorities to take immediate steps to enhance the safety, security and humane treatment of Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails,” the MEA said in a statement.
Pakistani High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir told The Hindu that if such a proposal was formally submitted, his country would examine it. At the same time, Mr. Bashir had spoken of the need for an impartial probe into the circumstances leading to Sanaullah’s death, especially because it took place in Jammu and Kashmir and also because he was assaulted less than 12 hours after the Union Home Ministry had sent a circular asking the authorities to segregate Pakistani prisoners and strengthen their security.
