I-Day likely to spell freedom for Pak prisoners

Speaking to ENS, Pakistan High Commission’s First Secretary Mohammad Khalid Jamali said they had come to meet and verify the claims of 16-odd Pakistani prisoners. ‘‘We will now get their antecedents verified from Pakistan,’’ he said.

Of these 16 prisoners, three were shifted here from Jammu and Kashmir, two from Patiala, while the rest were arrested from the border in Amritsar and subsequently lodged here. The team questioned the prisoners on the circumstances under which they were arrested, the charges against them and the length of their sentence.

Jamali hoped the prisoners will be repatriated to Pakistan soon. ‘‘The Pak High Commission will recommend their release to the Indian government after verifying their addresses, et al.’’

R. Ratnam, in charge of the Pak Cell in the External Affairs Ministry and S.C.Anand, Under Secretary in Home were part of the team.

Jail Superintendent Capt S.P. Singh (retd) said apart from the 16 prisoners who met the team, 40 more Pakistani prisoners are currently lodged in the jail. ‘‘We will make efforts to repatriate 30-35 of these prisoners as well since they are nearing completion of their sentences,’’ he said.

The 16 prisoners whose cases are under consideration are Hanif Mohd, Ahmed Ali, Gunga, Mulla Rasood, Azad Mehmood, Ramjano, Je-ul-Rehman, Mohd Myam, Ashraf, Mohamadin, Zulfikar, Alla Ditta, Sahbaz, Mohammad Jabbar Khan, Rashi Mohammad Khan and Nawab-ul-Din.