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Islamabad, Oct 28 (IANS) Pakistan's Federal Ministry of Interior has informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that five Indian spies, who had completed their sentence after being charged with espionage and terrorism, had been sent back to India.
The ministry was responding to a petition filed by the Indian High Commission, seeking release of at least five of its spies named Bircho, Bang Kumar, Satish Bhag and Sonu Singh to be released from Pakistani jail as they had completed their term.
"Keeping prisoners in jail after serving their sentence is a violation of the rights under the Constitution of Pakistan," the petition prayed. "Legally, there is no reason for them to be imprisoned. Prisoners should be released and arrangements should be made for their return to India," the Indian High Commission petition contested.
However, the Pakistan Interior Ministry informed the IHC that the five Indian prisoners, convicted of espionage, were release and sent back to India on October 26 after completing their sentences. While one did not want to go back even after completion of his term. Therefore, he was deported, the interior ministry report stated.
"The Ministry of Interior has deported five Indian prisoners," the ministry said in its reply.
IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah presided the hearing of the petitions where the report was submitted by Pakistan's interior ministry.
"How can you keep them for longer than their sentence?" asked Justice Minallah.
"If they have completed their sentence, send them back," Justice Minallah added disposing of one of the petitions seeking release of four Indian prisoners.
"It is a crime to keep a prisoner in jail when the convict completes his/her prison term," said the Chief Justice, reiterating that "the prisoners who served their terms should be released from jail according to the law". A separate petition seeking release and return of three more Indian prisoners was adjourned till November 5.
Hearing the petition, the Indian High Commission mentioned that there were three more citizens, who were still present in the Pakistani jail despite completing their sentence.
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Tayyab Shah replied sating that the court would also be appraised about the three remaining prisoners in the coming days.
--IANS
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