Topic: India and its neighborhood- relations.
3. Discuss the need for India and Pakistan to evolve a policy to ensure and guarantee Prisoners their rights and early repatriation. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
The article throws light upon the lives of hundreds of fishermen who have been languishing in Pakistan’s prisons for years with no end in sight.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the need for India and Pakistan to evolve a policy to ensure and guarantee Prisoners their rights and early repatriation.
Directive:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you have to debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You have to give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Fishermen from India end up in Pakistani waters and are arrested by authorities for illegally entering their territory. The problem is aggravated due to the failure in agreement over the maritime boundary and the dispute over Sir Creek in Kutch.
Body:
Agreement between India and Pakistan – Attempts to resolve the issue. India and Pakistan signed the Agreement on Consular Access in 2008. Despite some lacunae, it was significant.
Consular access is an exception. Without it, the nationality of the person is not confirmed and the repatriation process cannot begin. Though the agreement does not state a time limit, there are numerous instances in which both countries have not confirmed nationality for as long as 18 months, during which the arrested men languish in jails.
Also, in 2007, India and Pakistan set up a joint judicial committee on prisoners comprising four retired judges from each side.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
