Indian High Commission seeks prisoner’s release by Pakistan

Islamabad, Sept 21: The Indian High Commission (IHC) has sought release of an Indian convict who has served his five-year sentence. The Indian national, Rafiq Jutt, was apprehended by Pakistan Army in 2008 and he was sentenced to five-year imprisonment on March 8, 2012 after a trial, which had expired on March 7 this year. A petition filed by the Commission was taken up by Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Aamer Farooq yesterday. However, the IHC bench withdrew the petition after objections raised by the registrar office that the power of attorney was not properly signed and relevant parties were not nominated as respondents, a report in the Dawn said today. Advocate Malik Shahna­waz Noon, the petitioner’s counsel, said he would re-file the petition after making necessary changes. Advocate Noon maintained that the convict was a Muslim and belonged to the Indian state of Gujarat. He visited Pakistan on a valid visa in 2008 when Pakistan Army apprehended him. Mr Jutt was tried under section 59 of the Pakistan Army Act. During his imprisonment, the Indian national was kept in different jails. Presently, he is confined in Karachi’s central jail. Advocate Noon said that since Mr Jutt had completed his sentence and now the authorities had no concern with him, he might be released. The advocate said that as Mr Jutt was an Indian citizen, the matter directly came under the Interior Ministry which had the authority to arrange his release by ordering the Sindh Home Secretary. Among other grounds, Mr Jutt had an ailing mother back home and there was no person to look after her as his wife was compelled to work at a farm as a labourer due to his imprisonment, the advocate said, adding that Mr Jutt has a nine-year-old son. UNI