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HIGHCOURT DIRECTS EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY TO ONCE AGAIN TAKE UP MATTER WITH PAKISTAN FOR RELEASE OF WAR PRISONER

November 16, 2018 07:22 PM

The Union of India in its reply had stated that Pakistan is not responding to letters from Indian authorities. The Counsel for petitioner referred to evidence in the form of duly documented statements mentioned above, and argued that in the face of clinching evidence, Government of India can approach the International Court of Justice for seeking repatriation of Surjit Singh from Pakistan.

Chandigarh (Subhash Jindal)

Panjab and Haryana Highcourt directs Union External Affairs Ministry to once again take up matter with Pakistan (for release of Surjit Singh, a war prisoner) on the basis of new evidence: 

Surjit Singh (File Photo)
 High Court Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta today issued directed Union External Affairs Ministry to once again take up matter with Pakistan (for release of Surjit Singh, a war prisoner) on the basis of new evidence, in a writ petition filed by Angrez Kaur of Faridkot , seeking a direction to get her husband, Surjit Singh, a Constable in BSF (Border Security Force), who was captured by Pakistani Army during 1971-war on 4.12.1971, but the BSF authorities presumed her to have been killed in war against Pakistan in Chhamb Sector, released from Pakistan Jail.

Among other evidence, the petitioner relied upon a statement given by former Pakistani Human Rights Minister, Ansar Burni, on 28.4.2011 in Pakistan to news paper “Jang”, which thereafter was also reported in “Amar Ujala” news paper of 29.4.2011, wherein it was stated that Constable Surjit Singh of India was in Pakistan Jail, after he had completed 20 years’ imprisonment.

The petitioner also stated that in 2004 also, there were news reports that her husband was being released, but on going to border to receive him, she found that one Makhan Singh, who was undergoing imprisonment in Pakistan on charge of spying, had been repatriated to India, in the assumed name of Surjit Singh. Makhan Singh admitted before news channels that Surjit Singh was still in jail in Pakistan. The comlete interview of Makhan Singh is available on Youtube. 

The Union of India in its reply had stated that Pakistan is not responding to letters from Indian authorities. The Counsel for petitioner referred to evidence in the form of duly documented statements mentioned above, and argued that in the face of clinching evidence, Government of India can approach the International Court of Justice for seeking repatriation of Surjit Singh from Pakistan.

After hearing the Counsel for petitioner and Additional Solicitor General of India (Shri Satya Pal Jain), Justice Rajan Gupta directed the Union of India take up matter with Pakistan (for release of Surjit Singh, a war prisoner) on the basis of new evidence, which would be supplied by the petitioner along with appropriate representation to be addressed to Union External Affairs Ministry, and the Union of India, after taking up the matter with Pakistan, shall submit a status report in the High Court on January 21st, 2019.

 
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