Pakistan slams Indian authorities for cremating Pakistani prisoners’ bodies
Islamabad: Pakistan has criticized Indian authorities for cremating dead bodies of Pakistani prisoners and fishermen in jails without informing Islamabad or their families, in violation of bilateral consular protocols and Islamic burial traditions.
According to Kashmir Media Service, standard protocol requires that when a Pakistani citizen dies in Indian custody, the body must undergo legal formalities, post-mortem examination and be repatriated to Pakistan for burial.
Critics say cremating bodies inside Indian jails constitutes “the worst form of human rights violation.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan has handed over a list of 753 Pakistani prisoners detained in India, while India shared a list of 439 prisoners. He added that each case is being pursued for consular access, nationality confirmation, release and repatriation.
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to which both countries are parties, requires under Article 37(a) that the receiving state inform the consular post without delay of the death of a national. Article 36 also grants consular officers the right to visit detained nationals.
Under the India-Pakistan Bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, prisoner lists must be exchanged on 1 January and 1 July, with consular access provided within three months and efforts made for release and repatriation.
Pakistan has consistently raised concerns over delays in consular access, inadequate notification and welfare of its prisoners.
Failure to notify deaths or hasty disposal of remains is inconsistent with the VCCR and the spirit of the 2008 agreement, and could invite diplomatic protests and international legal action, officials said.
