4/11/2003 10:53:55 AM

Heads of 25 families from Punjab and Haryana, whose sons/wards are in Pakistan’s jails for the past two years, today gathered here and appealed to the International Bhai Mardana Yadgari Kirtan Darbar Society to make efforts for the release of their kin. The family members also brought clothes and other items of use for sending these to their wards in jails through the members of society, accompanying the Sikh jatha going to Pakistan tomorrow to pay obeisance at various Sikh shrines on Baisakhi. Mr Harpal Singh Bhullar, President of the society, assured them (family members of the jailed) that he along with others would meet Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister, Mr Zaffarullah Khan Jamali, Foreign Minister, Mian Khursid Mehmood Kasuri and chairperson of the Human Rights Commission Ms Asma Jahangir Kazi and urge them for the release of Punjabi youths in Pakistan’s jails for the past two years. They demanded special visa for them to visit Pakistan and meet their kin in jails and give them items of use apart from paying obeisance at Sikh gurdwaras. The society would submit this request to General Musharraf through a memorandum. Mr Bhullar told The Tribune that nearly 25 youths who had gone abroad through illegal means for employment were caught in Turkey and Iran. They were beaten up, then travel documents destroyed and pushed into Pakistan along with other Pakistani youths, while trying to reach European countries. He alleged that Pakistani authorities had already released all Pakistani youths while the Punjabis were still in jails for no offence. He added that in jails they were being forced to embrace Islam. They were also being maltreated, he alleged. Accusing the Centre for doing nothing for the release of these Punjabi youths, Mr Bhullar pointed out that four youths were lodged in Mach jail of Baluchistan, 12 in Quetta jail and six were lodged in Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore. He added that the society had also appealed to the Government of India for the release of these youths. Out of the total 25 Punjabi youths in Pakistan jails, four are from Hoshiarpur, four from Nawanshahar, three from Kurukshetra, two from Jalandhar and two belonged to Ambala district. Two other youths are from Yumunanagar, two from Fatehgarh Sahib, one from Moga and one from Kapurthala districts of Punjab and Haryana. The remaining youths belonged to Patiala and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab