A human rights report released on Monday has slammed Pakistan for its treatment to tens of thousands of inmates during the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Instead of freeing prisoners like other countries to risk infection in overcrowded and unsanitary jails, Pakistan has increased the prison population.

Watch |&nbsp;

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From April 2020 to August 2020, the prison population increased by more than 6,000 across the country to 79,603.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-oppositions-rise-in-protests-signifies-fall-of-imran-khan-349799">Pakistan opposition's rise in protests signifies fall of Imran Khan</a>

Prisoners who were initially freed were later rearrested.&nbsp;

The joint report was prepared by London-based Amnesty International and Justice Project Pakistan.&nbsp;

The report said the inmates face a rising threat of infection and urged authorities to renew efforts to free certain prisoners, especially, the elderly, women and those jailed of conscience.&nbsp;

As the country faces the second wave of the deadly virus, prisoners are still dangerously exposed since the authorities failed to tackle overcrowding and in fact worsened it, said Rimmel Mohydin, South Asia regional campaigner for Amnesty International, as reported by news agency AP.

During the initial outbreak of the virus in February, the Islamabad High Court ordered to free pretrial inmates charged with non-violent crimes as well as those whose bail had been earlier refused.&nbsp;

As many as 519 prisoners were released on bail in the southern Sindh province, but in late March, the Supreme Court suspended all bail orders that were given due to Covid-19.&nbsp;

The report said the apex court's decision led to a reverse trend to release prisoners and caused a rearrest of prisoners.&nbsp;

Sarah Belal, Justice Project Pakistan's executive director said the inmates who were to be freed because of age or time served were also not released.

The women who were convicted or on the trial of petty or minor crimes and were set to be released following Prime Minister Imran Khan's order were also not released, Belal said.&nbsp;

Pakistan's prisons were dangerously overcrowded before the outbreak struck and it normally jails about 80,000 people out of accommodation of fewer than 58,000 prisoners, according to the World Prison Brief.&nbsp;

A human rights report released on Monday has slammed Pakistan for its treatment to tens of thousands of inmates during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of freeing prisoners like other countries to risk infection in overcrowded and unsanitary jails, Pakistan has increased the prison population.

A human rights report released on Monday has slammed Pakistan for its treatment to tens of thousands of inmates during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of freeing prisoners like other countries to risk infection in overcrowded and unsanitary jails, Pakistan has increased the prison population. Watch | From April 2020 to August 2020, the prison population increased by more than 6,000 across the country to 79,603. Also read | Pakistan opposition's rise in protests signifies fall of Imran Khan Prisoners who were initially freed were later rearrested. The joint report was prepared by London-based Amnesty International and Justice Project Pakistan. The report said the inmates face a rising threat of infection and urged authorities to renew efforts to free certain prisoners, especially, the elderly, women and those jailed of conscience. As the country faces the second wave of the deadly virus, prisoners are still dangerously exposed since the authorities failed to tackle overcrowding and in fact worsened it, said Rimmel Mohydin, South Asia regional campaigner for Amnesty International, as reported by news agency AP. During the initial outbreak of the virus in February, the Islamabad High Court ordered to free pretrial inmates charged with non-violent crimes as well as those whose bail had been earlier refused. As many as 519 prisoners were released on bail in the southern Sindh province, but in late March, the Supreme Court suspended all bail orders that were given due to Covid-19. The report said the apex court's decision led to a reverse trend to release prisoners and caused a rearrest of prisoners. Sarah Belal, Justice Project Pakistan's executive director said the inmates who were to be freed because of age or time served were also not released. The women who were convicted or on the trial of petty or minor crimes and were set to be released following Prime Minister Imran Khan's order were also not released, Belal said. Pakistan's prisons were dangerously overcrowded before the outbreak struck and it normally jails about 80,000 people out of accommodation of fewer than 58,000 prisoners, according to the World Prison Brief.

Pakistani prisoners at high risk of coronavirus infection: Report

India will be releasing five Pakistani prisoners on June 7 as a goodwill gesture.

The situation of Indian and Pakistani prisoners languishing in each other's jail has been one of the biggest humanitarian issues between the two countries.

In April, New Delhi had sent a note verbale to Islamabad asking for the release&nbsp;of prisoners who have completed their sentence; after Pakistan released 360 Indian prisoners.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first term was able to secure the release of 1749 Indian prisoners, including 1725 fishermen along with 57 boats.

In 2017, India had suggested Pakistan that the two sides could work together for the release and repatriation of elderly, women and mentally unsound prisoners on humanitarian grounds and proposed to revive the mechanism of Joint Judicial Committee.

Last six months saw New Delhi sending a number of note verbale to Islamabad asking to organise an early visit of Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan but it has not received any response.

In December 2018, Pakistan released Indian Citizen Hamid Nehal Ansari after six years in jail. Hamid was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2012 after he was found with a fake passport. He had gone to Pakistan via Afghanistan on a fake passport to meet a girl he befriended on Facebook.

It was followed by the release of two Pakistani nationals by India, Imran Warsi and Abdullah Shah. Imran Wari had come to India in 2004 on a valid visa but overstayed after marrying an Indian girl who he loved. He was caught after trying to make a fake passport in Bhopal and released in 2018, after 10 years in jail. Shah, an autistic person from Pakistan's Swat district, crossed over to India to meet Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan in 2017.

India will be releasing five Pakistani prisoners on June 7 as a goodwill gesture. The situation of Indian and Pakistani prisoners languishing in each other's jail has been one of the biggest humanitarian issues between the two countries.

India will be releasing five Pakistani prisoners on June 7 as a goodwill gesture. The situation of Indian and Pakistani prisoners languishing in each other's jail has been one of the biggest humanitarian issues between the two countries. In April, New Delhi had sent a note verbale to Islamabad asking for the release of prisoners who have completed their sentence; after Pakistan released 360 Indian prisoners. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his first term was able to secure the release of 1749 Indian prisoners, including 1725 fishermen along with 57 boats. In 2017, India had suggested Pakistan that the two sides could work together for the release and repatriation of elderly, women and mentally unsound prisoners on humanitarian grounds and proposed to revive the mechanism of Joint Judicial Committee. Last six months saw New Delhi sending a number of note verbale to Islamabad asking to organise an early visit of Joint Judicial Committee to Pakistan but it has not received any response. In December 2018, Pakistan released Indian Citizen Hamid Nehal Ansari after six years in jail. Hamid was arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2012 after he was found with a fake passport. He had gone to Pakistan via Afghanistan on a fake passport to meet a girl he befriended on Facebook. It was followed by the release of two Pakistani nationals by India, Imran Warsi and Abdullah Shah. Imran Wari had come to India in 2004 on a valid visa but overstayed after marrying an Indian girl who he loved. He was caught after trying to make a fake passport in Bhopal and released in 2018, after 10 years in jail. Shah, an autistic person from Pakistan's Swat district, crossed over to India to meet Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan in 2017.

India to release five Pakistani prisoners on June 7

Hundred Indian fishermen, released by Pakistan, arrived in Vadodara after crossing the Attari-Wagah border earlier this week.

The&nbsp;fishermen are from the state`s Veraval region and were caught by Pakistan coast guard for crossing the international sea borders.

They were kept in Karachi jail for over a one-and-a-half year before being released on April 8.

"Many of us accidentally cross the border while some go to that side knowingly for catching fishes. I was in Pakistan for about 17 months. We were always confined in a particular cell and were never allowed to venture out. We were clearly told to stay in the definite cell for our own safety," a fisherman reportedly told ANI. 
"I was caught accidentally while we were sleeping on the boat. The boat had accidentally crossed inside their border," another fishermanVikram told AN.&nbsp;

The fishermen were brought to Vadodara through train from Amritsar by the state fisheries department.

Ramesh Kumar, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department said, "These were released from Pakistan on April 8. Our team had gone to Amritsar to receive them and have brought them here through a train."

On April 5, Pakistan had announced that it will be releasing 360 Indian prisoners upon completion of their sentences, starting April 8.

The decision comes after India sent a note verbale to Pakistan on Tuesday, urging it to make necessary arrangements for an immediate release and repatriation of Indian prisoners who had completed their respective prison sentences.

Hundred Indian fishermen, released by Pakistan, arrived in Vadodara after crossing the Attari-Wagah border earlier this week. The fishermen are from the state`s Veraval region and were caught by Pakistan coast guard for crossing the international sea borders.

Hundred Indian fishermen, released by Pakistan, arrived in Vadodara after crossing the Attari-Wagah border earlier this week. The fishermen are from the state`s Veraval region and were caught by Pakistan coast guard for crossing the international sea borders. They were kept in Karachi jail for over a one-and-a-half year before being released on April 8. "Many of us accidentally cross the border while some go to that side knowingly for catching fishes. I was in Pakistan for about 17 months. We were always confined in a particular cell and were never allowed to venture out. We were clearly told to stay in the definite cell for our own safety," a fisherman reportedly told ANI. "I was caught accidentally while we were sleeping on the boat. The boat had accidentally crossed inside their border," another fishermanVikram told AN. The fishermen were brought to Vadodara through train from Amritsar by the state fisheries department. Ramesh Kumar, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department said, "These were released from Pakistan on April 8. Our team had gone to Amritsar to receive them and have brought them here through a train." On April 5, Pakistan had announced that it will be releasing 360 Indian prisoners upon completion of their sentences, starting April 8. The decision comes after India sent a note verbale to Pakistan on Tuesday, urging it to make necessary arrangements for an immediate release and repatriation of Indian prisoners who had completed their respective prison sentences.

100 Indian fishermen reach Vadodara after being released from Pak prison 

Pakistan&nbsp;defence minister&nbsp;Khawaja Muhammad Asif, speaking in Parliament on Kulbhushan Jadhav&#39;s death sentence, reiterated his country&#39;s hardline stand on the issue. He openly hit back at Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj&#39;s statement in Parliament, and declared, &quot;Pakistan is strong enough to defend itself. The desire for peace should not be seen as a weakness.&quot;

&quot;We have 80,000 troops stationed along the LoC (Line of Control),&quot; he stated in Pakistan Parliament.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties in India raised the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan, on charges of being a spy.

As parliamentarians from different political parties condemned Pakistan&#39;s move, &quot;Save Kulbhushan&quot; was the sentiment that echoed in Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Indian Parliament.&nbsp;Swaraj&nbsp;warned&nbsp;Pakistan of consequences on diplomatic relations if the latter carries out the death sentence on Jadhav.

&quot;There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan&#39;s well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism,&quot; Sushma Swaraj said in a&nbsp;statement in both Houses of Parliament. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
&quot;Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder,&quot; she said, adding that the sentence by the Pakistani military court was based on &quot;concocted charges&quot;.

&quot;Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing a death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
&quot;I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter,&quot; Swaraj said.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> LIVE: EAM Sushma Swaraj speaking in Rajya Sabha on death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav <a href="https://t.co/BkC6ws2kws">https://t.co/BkC6ws2kws</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/851681759028695040">April 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Replying to a suggestion by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Swaraj said the government will not only ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, but will take up it with the President of Pakistan also. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
&quot;Whatever is necessary, we will do,&quot; she said, adding that Jadhav was &quot;not only the son of his parents, but is the son of India.&quot; 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Swaraj said Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was abducted and taken to Pakistan. &quot;The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him&quot;, which has been denied by the Pakistani authorities. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
&quot;It is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence,&quot; she said. 
 
Indian interior minister Rajnath Singh questioned Pakistan&#39;s allegations of Jadhav being a spy and said he had a valid Indian visa.&nbsp;

&quot;Indian Government will do whatever possible for Kulbhushan Jadhav... want to assure all that justice will be done with him,&quot; Singh said.&nbsp;

Early today,&nbsp;Congress called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and secure Jadhav&#39;s release.

&quot;Death sentence is a deliberate provocation to India. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government needs to travel beyond advisories. PM must intervene to secure his release,&quot; senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala&nbsp;said on Twitter.&nbsp;

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2/3 Death sentence is a deliberate provocation to India. BJP Govt needs to travel beyond advisories. PM must intervene to secure his release
&mdash; Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) <a href="https://twitter.com/rssurjewala/status/851642157723267072">April 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Hours after Pakistan announced that&nbsp;Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, has been <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-military-court-sentences-spy-kulbhushan-jadhav-to-death-india-calls-it-a-farce-14382">sentenced to death</a>, India&nbsp;on Monday halted the release of 12 Pakistani prisoners who were scheduled to be repatriated on Wednesday after the completion of their prison term.

Officials&nbsp;told news agency&nbsp;PTI that the Indian government feels it is not the right time for the release of the Pakistani prisoners.

Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court for &quot;his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan&quot;, Pakistan&nbsp;media reported quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military&#39;s media wing.

&quot;The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act and awarded death sentence,&quot; the ISPR said in a statement.

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence, the statement added.

India on Monday also summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche for awarding the death sentence to Jadhav.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not&nbsp;informed about Jadhav&#39;s trial.

Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran last year and according to MEA his presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities.

&quot;If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder,&quot; a statement from MEA read.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Protest near Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi against death sentence given to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KulbhushanJadhav?src=hash">#KulbhushanJadhav</a> <a href="https://t.co/oa9w0iJJ5i">pic.twitter.com/oa9w0iJJ5i</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/851680580479492096">April 11, 2017</a></blockquote>
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(WION with inputs from DNA and&nbsp;PTI)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sushma Swaraj has warned Pakistan of 'consequences on diplomatic relations' if Jadhav's death sentence is carried out

Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, speaking in Parliament on Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence, reiterated his country's hardline stand on the issue. He openly hit back at Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj's statement in Parliament, and declared, "Pakistan is strong enough to defend itself. The desire for peace should not be seen as a weakness." "We have 80,000 troops stationed along the LoC (Line of Control)," he stated in Pakistan Parliament. Meanwhile, Opposition parties in India raised the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan, on charges of being a spy. As parliamentarians from different political parties condemned Pakistan's move, "Save Kulbhushan" was the sentiment that echoed in Lok Sabha, the Lower House of Indian Parliament. Swaraj warned Pakistan of consequences on diplomatic relations if the latter carries out the death sentence on Jadhav. "There is no evidence of wrongdoing by Jadhav. If anything, he is the victim of a plan that seeks to cast aspersions on India to deflect international attention from Pakistan's well-known record of sponsoring and supporting terrorism," Sushma Swaraj said in a statement in both Houses of Parliament. "Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to regard the sentence, if carried out, as an act of pre-meditated murder," she said, adding that the sentence by the Pakistani military court was based on "concocted charges". "Let me state clearly that the government and the people of India would view very seriously the possibility that an innocent Indian citizen is facing a death sentence in Pakistan without due process and in violation of basic norms of law, justice and international relations. "I would caution the Pakistan government to consider the consequences for our bilateral relationship if they proceed on this matter," Swaraj said. #WATCH LIVE: EAM Sushma Swaraj speaking in Rajya Sabha on death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav https://t.co/BkC6ws2kws — ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 × Replying to a suggestion by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Swaraj said the government will not only ensure that Jadhav is provided with the best of lawyers in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, but will take up it with the President of Pakistan also. "Whatever is necessary, we will do," she said, adding that Jadhav was "not only the son of his parents, but is the son of India." Swaraj said Jadhav was doing business in Iran and was abducted and taken to Pakistan. "The exact circumstances are unclear and can only be ascertained if we have consular access to him", which has been denied by the Pakistani authorities. "It is extraordinary that yesterday, a decision is suddenly announced awarding a death sentence in this case when previous exchanges with India itself underlines the insufficiency of evidence," she said. Indian interior minister Rajnath Singh questioned Pakistan's allegations of Jadhav being a spy and said he had a valid Indian visa. "Indian Government will do whatever possible for Kulbhushan Jadhav... want to assure all that justice will be done with him," Singh said. Early today, Congress called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and secure Jadhav's release. "Death sentence is a deliberate provocation to India. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government needs to travel beyond advisories. PM must intervene to secure his release," senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala said on Twitter. 2/3 Death sentence is a deliberate provocation to India. BJP Govt needs to travel beyond advisories. PM must intervene to secure his release — Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 11, 2017 × Hours after Pakistan announced that Jadhav, who was arrested in March 2016, has been sentenced to death, India on Monday halted the release of 12 Pakistani prisoners who were scheduled to be repatriated on Wednesday after the completion of their prison term. Officials told news agency PTI that the Indian government feels it is not the right time for the release of the Pakistani prisoners. Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military court for "his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan", Pakistan media reported quoting Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing. "The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act and awarded death sentence," the ISPR said in a statement. Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa confirmed his death sentence, the statement added. India on Monday also summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit and issued a demarche for awarding the death sentence to Jadhav. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the Indian High Commission in Islamabad was not informed about Jadhav's trial. Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran last year and according to MEA his presence in Pakistan has never been explained credibly by the Pakistani authorities. "If this sentence against an Indian citizen, awarded without observing basic norms of law and justice, is carried out, the Government and people of India will regard it as a case of premeditated murder," a statement from MEA read. Protest near Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi against death sentence given to #KulbhushanJadhav pic.twitter.com/oa9w0iJJ5i — ANI (@ANI_news) April 11, 2017 × (WION with inputs from DNA and PTI)

Kulbhushan Jadhav row: After Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj's statement, Pakistan defence minister says it's 'strong enough to defend itself'