Direct repatriation of injured Pakistani prisoner, SC urged

The Supreme Court was Tuesday moved seeking direction to the central government to repatriate critically injured Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay in the interest of "universal justice and equity".

In his applicationJammu and Kashmir Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh said the central government may be directed that subject to the health conditions, Sanaullah Ranjay be repatriated to Sialkot, Pakistan.

Ranjay, who is in a deep coma, is being treated at Chandigarh-based Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences.

The application says that Ranjay has already completed 18 years in jail and the "entire history of the trial shows that he has completed life imprisonment also".

Describing him as a bandmaster at home (Sialkot) and also inside the jail, Bhim Singh said that Sanaullah Ranjay has led a much disciplined life in jail. Sanaullah, the application, citing the government's earlier affidavit, said was lodged in Amritsar's Central Jail and was later shifted to Kot Bhalwal in Jammu.

Singh's application was filed in the ongoing proceedings wherein he is seeking the release and repatriation of Pakistani and other foreign prisoners who have completed their prison terms.

In his fresh application, Bhim Singh has sought directions to the government to release "forthwith" all the Pakistani and foreign prisoners who already under gone more than 15 years of detention in Indian jails.

He has also sought directions to the government to repatriate all the mentally-challenged foreign prisoners who are lodged in different jails in the country and are not wanted in connection with any case. This, the application said, included five deaf and dumb prisoners lodged in Amritsar's Central Jail.

Referring to August 2012 affidavit by the government, Bhim Singh said that 16 mentally challenged persons who have completed their respective prison terms were lodged in different jail.