Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to revive the ‘joint judicial committee on prisoners’ with the Pakistan Government;
(b) if so, the details of the proposal and policy of the Pakistan Government;
(c) the details of results achieved by the said committee from 2008-2014 in the repatriation process since last two years; and
(d) the present status and revival plans of the said joint committee?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (d) The ‘India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners’ comprising retired High Court Judges from both sides to recommend steps for humane treatment of prisoners and fishermen and their expeditious release was set up in 2008 by the Governments of India and Pakistan. The committee, which is hosted by the two countries on an alternating basis, has had seven meetings so far, the last convened by India from 25-30 October 2013. The next visit is to be hosted by Pakistan.
During the meeting of the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries on the side-lines of ‘Heart of Asia- Senior Officials Meeting’ in New Delhi on 26th April 2016, India suggested that both sides should take steps to address humanitarian matters, including scheduling next visits by the Judicial Committee.
The details of the repatriation of Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails have been tabulated below:
Category 2014 2015 2016
(as on date)
Fishermen 185 448 190
Civil Prisoners 06 05 02
In 2016, India has released 09 Pakistani fishermen and 03 civil prisoners so far. In 2015, 115 Pakistani fishermen and 44 Pakistani civil prisoners were released.