Pakistan lodges protest over jail attack in Jammu

Pakistan on Friday raised with India the incident in which one of its nationals lodged in a Jammu jail was attacked and sought immediate consular access to him.

"Pakistan High Commission has shown serious concern. It has taken up with Ministry of External Affairs the attack on Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah in Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu," the Press attache in the High Commission in New Delhi said.

He said apart from seeking immediate consular access, the High Commission has also asked for detailed information about the incident and medical facilities for the victim and security of other Pakistani inmates.

The attack on Sanaullah comes a day after the death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh after a murderous attack on him in a Lahore prison.

49-year-old Sarabjit had sustained severe injuries when at least six prisoners attacked him in a barrack at Kot Lakhpat Jail last week, hitting him on the head with bricks.

He was on death row after being convicted of alleged involvement in a string of bomb attacks in Pakistan's Punjab province that killed 14 people in 1990 and spent about 22 years in Pakistani prisons. Sarabjit's family has said his was a case of mistaken identity.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry has asked all the states to step up security of nearly 220 Pakistani prisoners lodged in their respective jails after the attack in Lahore prison.