Lahore, Jan 5 : Awais Sheikh, the counsel for Indian death-row prisoner in Pakistani jail Sarbajit Singh, has revealed that 72 missing prisoners of war are still detained in the jails of Pakistan and India, awaiting their release for decades, reports The News.
Addressing a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, Awais said 18 Pakistani prisoners of war (PoWs) were detained in Indian jails whereas 54 Indian PoWs were languishing in Pakistani jails. He requested the governments of both neighbouring countries to release the prisoners because it would help them improve their relationship.
He said he would soon file a petition in the Lahore High Court.
About Sarbajit Singh, he said there were strong possibilities of Sarbajit's release on August 14, 2011 and he was informed that the President of Pakistan would grant him pardon in his speech. But it did not happen due to a certain reason.
He said he believed that Sarbajit was not freed because India had not released Pakistani prisoner Khalid Chishti despite Indian Supreme Court's order.
He expressed the hope that Sartbajit would be granted presidential pardon soon as a new mercy petition had been submitted to the president.
Singh has succeeded in attaining special attention of President Zardari. “This time, there are bright prospects of Sarabjit Singh's release,” he added.
