PDP slams state govt's 'failure' to protect Sanaullah

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has expressed grief over the death of Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah, who was fatally attacked by another inmate in the high-security Kotbalwal jail in Jammu last week.

In a statement issued on Thursday, PDP’s chief spokesperson Naeem Akthar said, “The Supreme Court reprimand on the issue is a clear indication of the state government’s failure to protect the Pakistani prisoner in jail”.

While expressing hope that the ‘tit-for-tat killing of Sarabjeet Singh and Sanaullah may prove a turning point’ in the relationship between India and Pakistan, Akthar said that governments and civil society of the two countries must work seriously to return to “civilised conduct”.

He observed that the “barbaric treatment” meted out to two prisoners has caused immense damage to the entire region.

“Prison authorities are supposed to be the custodian of the life and dignity of the prisoners who are lodged in jails, with the explicit expectations of safety and security,” he said.

Akhtar further said that “there is a need to go over the entire scenario regarding conditions of prisoners within and outside the state”.

He said that human rights organisations have continuously been pointing out shortcoming of amenities provided to the prisoners.

He said, “There are countless complaints that Kashmiri prisoners lodged in jails outside the state have been given discriminatory treatment”.