About 97 prisoners are languishing in different Thai jails and facing brute sentence from 25 to 100 years. Three of those prisoners have committed suicide after losing hope of release while another died of AIDS, said Global Foundation (GF) President and Executive Director Ulfat Hussain Kazmi, here on Wednesday.
GF is a human rights organisation working on the plight of prisoners within and outside Pakistan.
Kazmi was addressing a protest demonstration of the parents and relatives of the prisoners, held in front of Rawalpindi Press Club.
The demonstration was arranged by the Global Foundation in which people from all walks of life took part along with the families of more than 13 prisoners.
Kazmi called upon President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to look into the matter and make efforts for the immediate transfer of these prisoners.
"We have received the data of 44 prisoners out of 97 while more data will be available soon", Kazmi said and added that efforts were continued to put pressure on Pakistan Government to gear up its efforts for bringing back those prisoners who were leading a miserable life in Thai jails.
He further said as per available data about 44 prisoners are facing imprisonment for 25 to 100 years while two others facing death sentence, Kazmi said adding that three prisoners, Attaullah from Peshawar (18 year imprisonment), Lajwar Khan from Swabi (5 year) and Mudassar from Karachi (8 year) had committed suicide when they lost hope for their release. Another prisoner Mansoor from Karachi died of AIDS in Lard Yau Jail of Thailand.
He said out of 44 prisoners, one Asim Qureshi of Islamabad has been facing a sentence for 334 years (his father died of shock), 12 for 100 years and one for 50 years imprisonment while many other have been facing 8 to 30 years jail sentence.
He further said in 2001, Thai government asked different countries including Pakistan for signing the Transfer of Prisoners Treaty and many countries including Nigeria, Iran, Nepal, USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, Egypt, Switzerland, Japan, China and Jordan have signed treaty and brought back their prisoners from Thailand.
Nigeria got 500 prisoners released in two phases. But, he added unfortunately no response was shown by Pakistan Government.
He said 4 years back Thai government sent a draft proposal to Pakistan asking prisoners facing life term and have completed 8 years in Thai Jails should be transferred to Pakistani Jail and prisoners facing less than life term and have completed 4 years in Thai Jails should be transferred into Pakistan jails, which was turned down by Pakistani government.
The families of these prisoners belong to Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Swabi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Attock and many other cities of Pakistan, are living a miserable life without their dear ones, Kazmi said and added that these people are looking towards the government as when it wake up from slumber and take measures to bring back these prisoners.
Mother of Rashad Umer of Rawalpindi (facing 100 year imprisonment) burst into tears while talking to reporters and appealed the government to save the life of her son.
"We fell pray to the agents, who took money for sending Rashid to Thailand for a better life, where he was arrested and is facing 100 years imprisonment", she said and added that the Pakistani prisoners are being treated inhumanly in Thailand which is point of concern for human rights activists.
Son of another prisoner Shams ul Hadi of Naushehra (facing 100 years imprisonment) said that his father just to give his family better life gave a handsome amount to a local agent, who unfortunately was member of drug pushers gang.
"He hand over a bag to my father saying to give it to his person in Thailand which was filled with drugs. My father was arrested and is facing imprisonment for a sin he never did", he added.
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