Killing of Pakistani prisoner a threat to Pakistanis, Kashmiris in India: FO
February 22, 2019
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal on Friday said the killing of a Pakistani prisoner in a jail in India is a threat to the lives of Pakistanis and Kashmiris in India and occupied Kashmir.
"Killing of a Pakistani prisoner in Indian jail in the midst of frenzy created by Indian govt and media is a threat to the life and security of Pakistanis in India as well as to Kashmiris in IOK and all over India," Dr Faisal tweeted regarding Pakistani prisoner Shakirullah's death in Jaipur jail earlier this week.
A day earlier, the FO spokesperson rejected India's report regarding Shakirullah's death in Jaipur jail. Indian authorities had informed the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi that Shakirullah sustained injuries following a scuffle between fellow inmates in the television room in the jail, which proved fatal. However, according to some Indian media reports he was lynched.
Foreign Office spokesperson in a statement said it is incomprehensible how a scuffle between prisoners in an established government set up was allowed to escalate to the extent that Shakirullah sustained fatal injuries. "Security and safety of Pakistani inmates/prisoners in Indian jails is the responsibility of the government of India which should have taken enhanced measures to prevent this," he added.
The already sour relations between India and Pakistan have worsened over the past week as New Delhi piled blame on Islamabad for the Pulwama attack. Pakistan's leadership has strongly refuted the allegations.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday offered to investigate the Pulwama attack and act if India shares "actionable intelligence with Pakistan".
In a video message to the nation, the prime minister responded to Indian allegations regarding Pakistan's involvement in the attack which killed 44 Indian paramilitary soldiers and said he could not respond earlier owing to the "important visit of the Saudi crown prince". Explaining that he did not want to divert attention from the visit, PM Imran said, "I am now responding to the Indian government."
