Fwd: [PMARC] urgent: deaths of 2 due to hunger strike in kot lakhpat jail, Lahore

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: kavisriv <kavisriv@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Subject: [PMARC] urgent: deaths of 2 due to hunger strike in kot lakhpat jail, Lahore
To: Dalits Media Watch <PMARC@dgroups.org>



Dear friends,

This is very urgent. From extremely reliable sources I learnt that of the fifteen Indian and Nepali prisoners who were sitting on hunger strike, demanding their release back to their countries from Kot Lakhpat Jail, two died. One Suraj Kumar from UP and one from Nepal (name not known).

I have been pursuing along with others the release of six prisoners from Rajasthan who have since the last ten to fifteen years been in various Pakistani Jails, having completed their sentences several years ago. In their case we have been in touch with the Ministry of homen Affairs. We are expecting their release for a while, but all of us know that the prisoners on the two sides are a victim of the hositilies onthe sides and the two countries are the biggest violators of law when it comes to depriving citizens of either sides of their civil liberties.

I will send you the details of the six prisoners of Rajasthan.

This is a request to Asad or Brigadier sahab from HRCP to go to Kot Lakhpat jail today and enquire into the details. I think we cannot allow anymore casualties due to the ongoing hunger strike of these prisoners which perhaps is falling on deaf ears. We must assure them that we will take it up at the highest level and try getting them out.

Please respond urgently, this is a matter of life and death for the 13 who are still sitting on fast.

Kavita

On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 9:31 AM, asad jamal <asadjamal2006@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear All,

Your help in Ateeq's case was crucial for which I can not thank you enough.

Here is another story:

Nauman Arshad, a ninth class student, is in Faridkot juvenile home.

His father has died. The boy's family, mother and other kids, moved to Lahore from southern Punjab city of Vehari, five months back, and have been living in Baghbanpura area of Lahore with maternal uncle, Asif. The boy reportedly crossed over to India around the same time as Ateeq did, which makes me suspect that there is something more to such incidents. (Ateeq says he was kidnapped by two men when he was walking toward the Ravi bridge, the road after leads to Wagah.)

I've contacted Advocate Navkiran Singh (Chandigarh) whose chamber pursues HR cases. In fact, he called the family on their land line a couple of days back, one can guess that the no. could only be given to him by the boy. But the family came to know about the boy's arrest in India even earlier through a news item printed in daily Nawa-i-Waqt's local edition which had picked a news item on some Indian news media. What I have been able to gather is that the boy has been charged with some serious offence, though I am not too sure.

Let me also mention that Ateeq told me that the Pakistan Hi Commission offical who escorted him to Wagah had told him that Nauman Arshad had been taken to Farid Kot juvenile jail. We are arranging for documents to be despatched to Advocate Navkiran Singh, and though Interior Ministry and Pak Rangers have already been informed but nothing concrete has happened.

Mr. Navkiran Singh's no. is 0091-9814411494. It seems he'l to be more helpful. His associate advocate Mr. Bhattia may visit the boy today.

His office address:

NAVKIRAN SINGH & ASSOCIATES, LAWYERS AND CONSULTANTS, No. 516 , SECTOR 11-B,

CHANDIGARH -160011, INDIA.

PH :91-172-2746122 FAX :91-172-2749022 Cell :91-98144-11494

e-mail: navkiran@singhlawyers.com web site : www.singhlawyers.com

Moreover, Ateeq has also informed that he also met the following four other boys in Hoshiarpur juvenile home/jail, who have been caught by Indian security forces around the same time.

1. Bilal: from Karachi

2. Rashid: is from Sindh;

3. Adnan: is from Shakargarh (he gave his incorrect address)

4. Rafaqat: Ateeq says he is mentally ill and suffering from TB; he was taken to hospital while Ateeq was there.

This is strange so many boys of same age group have crossed over to India around the same time. Is there something more sinister at work?

I'l appreciate for any information and assistance in helping the kids return to their families. I am aware hundreds of fisherfolk are caught in the sea waters of India and Pakistan including many children. Can we think of some common forum to help them?

sincerely,

--
Asad Jamal

--
Kavita Srivastava
(General Secretary) PUCL Rajasthan

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