Indian prisoners released by Pakistan have reported ill treatment during imprisonment, Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.
"Instances of inhuman treatment of Indian prisoners have come to the notice of consular offices of our mission in Islamabad from time to time," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a written reply.
"Pakistani authorities do not inform the Indian mission of the arrest of Indians and consular access is not given until their sentence is complete. In many cases it is delayed even beyond that," Mukherjee said.
Ninety-five Indians in Pakistan jails are yet to be given consular access and 378 fishermen, 144 civilian prisoners and 74 prisoners of war are still languishing in Pakistan jails, he informed the House.
The minister said the government has taken up the issue of humane treatment and release of prisoners with Pakistan.
During the home secretary-level talks on May 30 and 31, 2006, it was agreed to exchange list of prisoners by June 15 release all the remaining fishermen by June 30 and facilitate consular access by July 31, 2006, for subsequent release.
