India to send a team of doctors to Pakistan for prisoner repatriation and Sikhs leave to visit Pakistan’s religious sites.
The Indian government is in talks with Pakistan to send a team of more than 20 doctors to the neighbouring country to examine mentally unsound women, children and elderly prisoners as part of a prisoner repatriation process.
The two countries arrived at an understanding for repatriation of prisoners earlier this month in an attempt to de-escalate tensions.
In October last year, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had made a proposal to Pakistani High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood Swaraj that the two sides look to resolve humanitarian issues related to the elderly, women, children and mentally unsound prisoners.
However, to the dismay of the prisoners awaiting repatriation the process has hit a roadblock.
Diplomatic sources within Pakistan have claimed that the state may not be willing to give visas to such a large number of doctors and medical experts.
This process was seen as a thaw in the relationship between the countries before news of alleged intimidation of diplomats made headlines.
Karachi stadium hosts cricket match after 9 years
Karachi hosted a high profile cricket match at its 27,000 capacity National Stadium Sunday for the first time after nine years.
At least 8,000 security personnel, including armed soldiers, guarded the venue where Peshawar Zalmi took on Islamabad United in the third Pakistan Super League (PSL) final.
Thousands of spectators stood outside the venue, in long queues, waiting to get to watch the memorable game.
Several spectators believed that this match would send a message to the world of Pakistan being a peaceful country that can play a role in international sports.
Indian Sikhs leave for Pakistan
As many as 49 Indian Sikhs crossed the Wagah border to visit a number of religious sites in Pakistan, the Dawn reported Monday.
They are meant to stay in the country for a week and visit Sikh religious sites in Lahore, Narowal, Hassanabdal and Nankana Sahib, the report said.
The pilgrims were given permission to cross the border into Pakistan after getting clearance from the immigration department.
However, just last week, when Pakistani pilgrims had attempted to get passage into India in order to visit the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, they were not issued visas by the Indian government, the report claimed.
The Foreign Office (FO) in Islamabad had expressed disappointment over India’s decision not to issue visas to 503 pilgrims intending to participate in the annual Urs of the Sufi saint.
Women health workers stage sit-in
Women health workers staged a sit-in outside the Punjab Assembly Monday in order to protest against the non-payment of salaries.
The women, belonging to different districts across Punjab, protested that they had not been paid their salaries for over five months.
They also protested that their other demands for a comprehensive service structure be addressed.
The women health workers have staged similar protests in the past for various reasons, including those pertaining to their upgradation, regularisation and payment of salaries.