Zee Media Bureau
Chandigarh: Officials of the Pakistan High Commission have visited injured Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay, who is critically injured after being attacked at the Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu. The officials visited the Pakistani prisoner at PGI Chandigarh where he is undergoing treatment.
The officials of the Pakistan High Commission visited the prisoner after India granted consular access to them on Friday night. They had also given travel permission to three officials and a driver. The information was confirmed on Saturday morning by the Ministry of External Affairs.
"Pakistan High Commission officials visited the injured prisoner Sanaullah in Chandigarh hospital at 03:30 hours in the morning. They also met the attending doctor," a spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Notably, Pakistan has demanded his immediate release and repatriation. Sanaullah was attacked in the Jammu jail a day after Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh succumbed to grievous injuries sustained in a murderous assault on him in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail.
Sanaullah, a resident of Sialkot, was attacked by a former Indian soldier convicted for murder.
He received serious head injuries and was first rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu, where doctors said he had slipped into a coma. The Pakistani was later flown to Chandigarh in an air ambulance and admitted to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Friday evening, hospital sources said.
Police said Sanaullah was being tried for murder since the late 1990s for carrying out acts of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said the attack took place around 8-8.30 am and that a probe had been ordered.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in a tweet that Sanaullah`s condition was "stable but he remains under medical watch".
India said the guilty would be punished and called the attack on Sanaullah "regrettable".
The External Affairs Ministry also proposed a meeting of concerned authorities from both countries to identify measures to "avoid such tragic incidents".
"We are aware of the regrettable incident involving a Pakistani prisoner, who was injured today during an altercation with another inmate of a jail in Jammu," the ministry said in a statement.
"The matter is being investigated and the guilty will be punished."
The ministry said an advisory had been issued to strengthen security for Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.
"Safety and security of prisoners in custody lies with the jail authorities and necessary action is being taken," the statement added.
According to a statement, there are 535 Indian prisoners, including 483 fishermen, in Pakistani jails and 272 Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.
The Pakistan high commission had earlier asked for repatriation of the prisoner for medical treatment and on humanitarian grounds.
It also asked for evacuation of Sanaullah by an air ambulance, including assistance in ground facilitation.
"Pakistan High Commission has asked for detailed information of the incident, immediate consular access, medical facilities for the victim and security of inmates (other Pakistani prisoners)," the mission said.
With Agency Inputs
