UK rights activist to move ICJ over Indian PoWs in Pakistan
Rights activist Jas Uppal to use international tribunal for furthering demands.
Indian activists pose with pictures of late Sarabjit Singh as they pay tribute to him in Kolkata. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
AMRITSAR:
A UK rights activist and advocate intends to move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to inquire into the status of Indian prisoners of war (PoWs) held in Pakistani jails, Times of India reported.
Jas Uppal, who is based out of UK, accuses past Indian governments for neglecting the Indian PoWs held in Pakistan, and intends to move the ICJ in a bid to pressurise the Pakistan government into sharing more information on the prisoners.
"Pakistan authorities should have kept the records of Indian PoWs under the rule of Geneva Conventions and it is the duty of Indian government to find out what had happened to the captured Indian army soldiers in Pakistan," says Uppal.
The report added that the ‘Missing Defense Personals Relative Association’ had submitted a list of 54 PoWs along with proof of their presence in Pakistan to the Pakistani government. The Pakistan government, though, has officially denied holding PoWs.
"This is not the answer and it certainly should not have been accepted by the successive governments of India, to do so, is to deny that these brave men in uniform were ever born, this would have never happened in the West. "
Uppal, who ran the ‘Free Sarabjit Singh’ campaign online, claims she has been contacted by many families who believe their relatives are held as PoWs in Pakistan.
“I have been contacted by a number of families of Indian PoWs - some from the official list of the 54 Indian PoWs and families of others who are not on the official list.”
Not having the license to practice in India, Uppal plans to have a colleague move the case through Indian courts over to the ICJ.
A UK rights activist and advocate intends to move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to inquire into the status of Indian prisoners of war (PoWs) held in Pakistani jails, Times of India reported.
Jas Uppal, who is based out of UK, accuses past Indian governments for neglecting the Indian PoWs held in Pakistan, and intends to move the ICJ in a bid to pressurise the Pakistan government into sharing more information on the prisoners.
"Pakistan authorities should have kept the records of Indian PoWs under the rule of Geneva Conventions and it is the duty of Indian government to find out what had happened to the captured Indian army soldiers in Pakistan," says Uppal.
The report added that the ‘Missing Defense Personals Relative Association’ had submitted a list of 54 PoWs along with proof of their presence in Pakistan to the Pakistani government. The Pakistan government, though, has officially denied holding PoWs.
"This is not the answer and it certainly should not have been accepted by the successive governments of India, to do so, is to deny that these brave men in uniform were ever born, this would have never happened in the West. "
Uppal, who ran the ‘Free Sarabjit Singh’ campaign online, claims she has been contacted by many families who believe their relatives are held as PoWs in Pakistan.
“I have been contacted by a number of families of Indian PoWs - some from the official list of the 54 Indian PoWs and families of others who are not on the official list.”
Not having the license to practice in India, Uppal plans to have a colleague move the case through Indian courts over to the ICJ.