Justice Upheld: May 2012

Thursday 24 May 2012

Mr Bhavesh Kantilal Parmar Unlawfully Detained in Pakistan Since 2005 and Continuing...

Mr Bhavesh Kantilal Parmar in Kot Lakphat Prison Lahore Pakistan since 2005

After starting the 'Free Sarabjit Singh Campaign'; please note www.freesarabjitsingh.com . Mr Sarbjit Singh's case has resulted in other families of prisoners unlawfully detained in Pakistani prisons coming forward and seeking help in the hope of securing the release and return of the relatives.

One such case is that of Mr Bhavesh Kantilal Parmar.

Facts of case:

Mr Bhavesh Kantilal Parmar and Indian national aged 32 from Mumbai is an architect by profession.

In 2005 Mr Parmar's father passed away following. Mr Parmar who is prone to depression and had difficulties in coming to terms with his father's death. It is my understanding that shortly after his father's death, Mr Bhavesh Parmar boarded a train to Amritsar in the north of India. It is unclear how Mr Parmar then managed to board the high security 'Samjhauta Express' train to Pakistan where he was detained for failing to provide documents and then ended up in Kot Lakphat Prison, Lahore in Pakistan where he continues to remain to date.

The Pakistani authorities have repeatedly failed to clarify the reason for Mr Parmar's arrest and or explain their failure to release to him. Accordingly Mr Parmar's detention is unlawful. Further there are concerns about the state of Mr Parmar's mental health which remains undiagonised and untreated in prison. Under international law, this amounts to torture.

Mr Parmar's mother Mrs Hansa Parmar was formally informed that her son was in Kot Lakphat Prison in 2009 - some 4 years after his disappearance and without knowledge of what had happened to her son in the intervening period.

Action taken:

Mr Parmar's case has been reported the matter to the international human rights agencies, and invited both the Indian and Pakistan authorities have asked to secure the release and return of Mr Parmar to his mother in India. There is no valid or justifiable grounds for his detention.

Further articles:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-13/mumbai/31689040_1_mentally-ill-youth-vile-parle-sarabjit-singh
http://www.punemirror.in/article/2/2012050520120505022328859b4945621/Man-missing-since-2005-is-in-Lahore-jail.html

Contact:

E-mail:

support@freesarabjitsingh.com

media@freesarabjitsingh.com

www.freesarabjitsingh.com

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=240430634069

Twitter: #freeourdad

17 Indian Nationals

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Mr Surjit Singh (aka "Makhan" Singh) an Indian National aged 76 Unlawfully Detained in Pakistan for 36 years and continuing....

Mrs Parminder Kaur attending a recent press conference and holding a photograph of her father Mr Surjit Singh.

Mr Surjit Singh (aka “Makhan Singh) is an Indian national aged 76 years who has spent the last 36 years of his life (and continuing) in Kot Lakphat Prison Lahore Pakistan following a dubious conviction in 1976 for “spying”. He was denied access to the Indian Consular or legal advice and representation at his trial and therefore did not have the benefit of a fair trial. Mr Surjit Singh’s conviction is unsafe. Accesses to Mr Surjit Singh’s original prosecution and defence files have been ignored.

Initially, Mr Surjit Singh was sentenced to death which was later commuted to life in imprisonment. In Pakistan a life sentence is equivalent to 25 years in prison. This means that Mr Surjit Singh’s sentence should have been completed in 2004. Mr Surjit Singh has served 11 years (and continuing) above and beyond the tariff determined against him. He has been denied all contact with his family in India. The Pakistani authorities have refused Mr Surjit Singh’s family visas to visit him in prison throughout the duration of his incarceration. Mr Surjit Singh is unaware that his eldest passed away in tragic circumstances.

Mr Surjit Singh suffers from various undiagnosed and untreated health conditions which have been drawn to the attention of the International Red Cross who under the Geneva Convention can visit and attend to foreign nationals detained in foreign prisoners. Unfortunately, despite repeated requests I have yet to receive an acknowledgment let alone a response from the International Red Cross. I am aware that Mr Surjit Singh health conditions continue to remain untreated. Mr Surjit Singh is being wilfully denied medical treatment. This amounts to torture.

This case and other similar cases have been repeatedly referred to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and other international human rights organisations. Unfortunately they have failed to acknowledge or confirm whether that they will intervene in this case. It is of concern that the international human rights organisations appear to be selective as to which causes and countries they champion at the exclusion of cases like that of Mr Surjit Singh.

Mr Surjit Singh’s case was drawn to the attention of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office earlier this year. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office’s response was that this case is a matter between governments of India and Pakistan. I beg to differ; this case and other cases of this type are essentially about abuses and breaches of human rights. Our Government donates considerable amount of financial aid to Pakistan. This should be monitored and be subject to the government of Pakistan addressing its record in relation to human rights.

Mr Surjit Singh’s case came to my attention by his daughter Mrs Parminder Kaur who lives in Punjab, India. Evidence was gathered, collated and forwarded to Mr Awais Sheikh to annex to the petition he subsequently issued in the High Court Lahore:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2141413/Indian-Pakistani-jail-30-yrs-walk-free-months.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Jas Uppal