Pak Govt. denies covert deal in back-to-back release of Surjeet, Dr Chishti

Islamabad, July 10 (ANI): State Minister for Foreign Affairs Malik Hamad Khan has denied rumours that Pakistan executed an 'under-the-table' deal to facilitate the release of Indian prisoner Surjeet Singh and Pakistani inmate Dr Khalil Chishti one after another.

"Both cases are completely different from each other. The Indian Supreme Court (SC) granted bail to Dr Chishti, while Surjeet completed his term in espionage case," The Express Tribune quoted Khan, as saying.

Last month Pakistan released Surjeet, who spent 27 years in Kot Lakhpat jail, while the Indian SC granted bail to Dr Chishti after President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to India in April this year.

Khan also said that currently around 81 of 428 Pakistani prisoners in India remain in various jails in Indian-administered Kashmir. Also, around 85 Pakistani fishermen languish in Indian prisons, he added.

"Our mission is in constant contact with the Indian Home Department to take up their cases at the earliest. We hope Indian officials will expedite their legal process for early release of prisoners," Hamad said. (ANI)