India to release Pakistan prisoners next week

Twentynine Pakistani prisoners and some fishermen lodged in Indian jails will be released by the government by April 15.

In a similar gesture, Islamabad is expected to release nearly 100 Indian fishermen, who were arrested on different occasions for violating Pakistan’s maritime boundary.

The step by both sides is a follow up to the recently concluded Home Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan and an attempt to give a fresh impetus to their bilateral relations.

“We have decided to release those prisoners and fishermen who have completed their sentences,” a government official said.

A complete list of all prisoners serving in each others’ custody will be exchanged by both sides on July 1.

At the Home Secretary-level meeting, India and Pakistan had agreed that the problem and issues of the inadvertent crossers should be viewed sympathetically, and in a focused and sensitive manner.

The Coast Guard of India and Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) will soon jointly work on setting up a mechanism for release of fishermen, who inadvertently cross the maritime boundary, and their boats on the same lines as those who unknowingly do the same on land.

There is a proposal to let off first-time offenders after warning them and taking their photographs and fingerprints.

However, a decision in this regard is yet to be taken.

Last Thursday, Pakistani authorities arrested 10 Indian fishermen for allegedly violating the country’s maritime boundary and also seized three boats.

A total of 61 Indian fishermen were arrested by the PMSA for allegedly fishing in Pakistani waters last month.

On April 7, Gopal Dass, who spent 27 years in a Pakistani jail after being convicted on charges of spying, returned home after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari remitted his sentence on humanitarian grounds following an appeal by the Indian Supreme Court.

Islamabad had recently repatriated 12 Indian prisoners, including 11 fishermen who had been held in a jail in Karachi for nearly three years even after completing their prison terms.

Another 442 Indian fishermen were freed last year after two Pakistani NGOs petitioned the Supreme Court for their release.

Pakistan and India arrest dozens of fishermen every year for violating their maritime boundary. Many of them languish in prison for years even after completing jail terms given to them.

Pakistani scenery or indian scenery which one is better???

Pakistani

Indian














Comments please what you think?

Kutay Indian In Kashmir =@

Top Pakistani pop singers Hadiqa Kiani and Jawad Ahmed

Top Pakistani pop singers including Hadiqa Kiani and Jawad Ahmed will perform live together at a charity rock concert in Dallas on Sunday, April 10 at 14315 Hotel crown plaza, midway road Addison Texas to raising fund for Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Pakistan, program organizers Dr. Jalil Khan and Dr. Nasarullah Khan said in a press release.

Proceeds of the show will go to Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital for providing comprehensive care free of cost to thousands of indigent cancer patients in Pakistan, said Dr jalil while talking to Jang group correspondent. Tickets are on sale at FunAsia box office.

Who is behind target killings in Karachi?

It is sad to watch the largest city of Pakistan, one that generates the largest chunk of revenue and provide jobs and shelter to Pakistanis from every nook and corner (and even across the borders) of the country, entangled in a bloody mess called “target killings”.
Before getting any further, lets first define what is a “target killing”. Generally, it is perceived that when someone is assassinated due to his/her affiliation with any political, religious, ethnic or other group, the killing is said to be targeted.
If this definition is taken as valid, it depicts a nerve chilling scenario where the society has lost its cool and where individuals, and groups, believe that killing someone is the solution of a problem, or is the only way to make a point.
Karachi, to a keen observer who can see through the crap spread by politicians and media alike, is a jungle full of deadly predators. There are swamps of drug-pushers and arms-dealers, dense bushes full of thugs and street criminals and schools of piranhas representing mafias, political, ethnic and religious terrorists of all sorts.
Karachities are forced to live amongst all this chaos and mayhem, while those responsible for public safety have scores of armed vehicles escorting their movement across the city. The Law Enforcing Authorities (LEAs) including the Police and Rangers are nothing more than silent spectators in the face of killings and arson. The “elected representatives” feel no shame or humiliation when people of their constituency die in cold blood. The political parties, claiming support of masses, do nothing but blame all and sundry. The opposition is silent, so is the Judiciary. The preachers of Islam, the civil society, the intelligentsia, no one is doing anything while Karachi bleeds daily, and dies a slow and painful death.
MQM blames ANP for target killings, ANP accuses MQM for lying, while Rehman Malik says a third element is involved.
These “target killings” are not just limited to MQM and ANP. Almost every political, and otherwise, group in Karachi has lost, or claim of losing, workers and “supporters” to target killings. It seems that either these groups have got into a death race of some sort, killing each other off, or there is some other element active in Karachi, stealthily killing members of rival groups so that the remaining ones can tear each other apart, leaving the ground for the one behind scenes.
From another perspective, some say that this is a war to occupy as much land as possible, with MQM delving into Pushtoon, Baloch and Punjabi dominant areas, and vice versa.
How long these target killings would haunt Karachities? No one has the answer, for sure.

MQM oil price

ISLAMABAD: A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) delegation led by Farooq Sattar met Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh and Minister for Interior Rehman Malik over oil price hike, Geo News reported.

The MQM delegation stressed upon the need to lessen the burden of oil prices over the people.

Afridi ready to tour West Indies

KARACHI: Pakistan's limited overs cricket captain Shahid Afridi has made himself available for the tour of West Indies after previously opting for a break. "Earlier I had decided to skip the tour because I wanted to take a well deserved rest from the game, but some former players and my family and friends told me to change my decision at this crucial time for Pakistan cricket," Afridi said on Monday. Afridi, 31, who has played 320 one-day internationals, led Pakistan to the semi-finals of the recent World Cup where they lost to eventual winners India. The seasoned all-rounder, who finished with 21 wickets in the tournament, said he wanted a break from cricket but the upcoming tour was an ideal opportunity to groom two or three new players. "That is why I want to be part of the team on the coming tour and carry on the momentum we got from the World Cup," he said. Afridi revealed the morale of the players was boosted by the warm welcome they received on returning from the World Cup hosted in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. "It is an indication that Pakistan cricket is on the right track and on the coming tours to West Indies and Zimbabwe we can form an ideal one-day combination," he added. The Pakistan team will play a Twenty20 match against West Indies on April 21, then five ODIs and two tests. Indications from the national selectors suggest they plan to rest some of the senior players for the limited over matches in the Caribbean and try out new players who have performed well in domestic cricket. (Reuters)