Supreme Court orders deportation of 13 Pakistani prisoners

New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday ordered the deportation of 13 Pakistanis languishing in several Indian jails for periods exceeding their sentences for various offences they had been charged with.

While examining the cases of 52 Pakistani nationals detained in various Indian jails, a bench of Justice B.N. Agarwal and Justice P.P. Naolekar ordered the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary to recommend to the centre to deport nine Pakistani prisoners by Oct 10 and four others by Oct 31.

The bench issued the direction in response to a petition by Jammu and Kashmir Panthers' Party president Bhim Singh, alleging that as many as 52 Pakistanis were detained in various jails - some without trial and others for periods exceeding their possible sentences for the offences they had been charged with.

While the state government told the court that it had already sent to the centre its recommendation to deport nine prisoners, the central government denied receiving any such recommendation.

On being quizzed by the bench, the Jammu and Kashmir government was unable to substantiate its claim with valid documents that it indeed had sent its recommendation.

Upset over the state government's casual approach, the bench sternly ordered the state chief secretary to make his recommendation to the Centre by Oct 10. It also ordered that the state send by Oct 31 its recommendation to the Centre to deport another four Pakistani prisoners, who have been languishing in various jails for between two to twelve years after completing their sentences.

After examining the cases of 13 Pakistani prisoners, the bench adjourned the matter for further hearing on Oct 8.