Islamabad, May 9 (IANS): Pakistan Thursday sought an investigation into the death of Sanaullah, a Pakistani prisoner who succumbed to grievous injuries after being attacked in India's Jammu jail, and demanded that perpetrators of this "heinous crime be brought to justice".
"We have learnt with a deep sense of grief that Sanaullah has expired today (Thursday) in a hospital in Chandigarh, India. He succumbed to the brutal injuries inflicted upon him during an attack in a jail...," said the ministry of foreign affairs, hours after Sanaullah's death from multiple organ failure.
Pakistani government offered its deep condolences to Sanaullah's family.
It said the government is "making necessary arrangements to repatriate his mortal remains to Pakistan" and hoped that the Indian government "will extend expeditious facilitation to that end".
Sanaullah, who had been hospitalised at the Chandigarh hospital after his attack in Jammu's Kot Bhalwal jail May 3, died just before 8 a.m. Thursday.
"The brutal manner in which Sanaullah was attacked in the jail is most unfortunate and a matter of deep concern for the government of Pakistan. We have conveyed our concern to the government of India in this regard and demanded that an investigation into the incident be held and perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice," said a statement from the foreign ministry.
Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has also called upon the Indian government to ensure the safety and security of all Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails.
"We also reiterate our call to the government of India to hold focused discussions on the conditions of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails and repatriate those who have already completed their sentences as per the Consular Access Agreement between Pakistan and India," the statement added.
India assures help to Pakistan in Sanaullah case
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS): India Thursday assured Pakistan that it would make all necessary arrangements to facilitate the request that Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay's body be sent back home.
"We tried to take all necessary measures medically and otherwise to save the Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay. Unfortunately despite our best efforts he succumbed to the injuries and died in the hospital today (Thursday) morning and we are have informed the Pakistani authorities about it and are in touch with them," ministry of external affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.
"Our understanding is that they (Pakistan government) would request for his body to be sent back and I would like to assure that we will make all necessary arrangements to facilitate that request," Akbaruddin said.
"They may send a flight. We are waiting for the details of the flight to process it and to facilitate in that endeavour," the MEA spokesperson added.
Sanaullah, who had been at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) hospital after being attacked by a fellow inmate at Jammu's Kot Bhalwal jail May 3, died just before 8 a.m. Thursday.
The Pakistani had been in deep coma since he was flown to Chandigarh from Jammu last Friday.
Sanaullah had suffered renal failure Wednesday.
The attack on Sanaullah took place a day after Sarabjit Singh, an Indian prisoner in Pakistan, succumbed to grievous injuries following a vicious assault in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail.
Sanaullah was arrested in 1996 and charged with involvement in a bomb blast at Katra near the Hindu shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in 1994 which left 10 people dead. He was serving life term in the Jammu jail.