Relatives of POWs appeal to Musharraf

Relatives of prisoners of war languishing in Pakistani jails on Sunday held a symbolic vigil in New Delhi seeking the release of their near and dear ones.

As night fell, relatives of 54 military personnel, who went missing during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, gathered at the India Gate and held a silent demonstration, claiming the officers are in Pakistani jails.

Carrying placards that read 'Dear Mr Pervez Musharraf, please let us find our husbands' and 'Let's build a bridge over troubled waters', representatives of the Missing Defence Personnel Relatives Association said, "Safe release of those held in Pakistani jails is the biggest confidence-building measure."

"Those captured during the 1971 war are still languishing in jails even after 34 years. We have been running from pillar to post and nobody is helping us. At a time when the relations are getting better, both the governments should take steps for their release," B K Suri, whose younger brother Major A K Suri went missing in action, said.

Ashuthosh Ghosh, holding paper and magazine cuttings that contained photographs of his younger brother Major A K Ghosh, which he claimed were from the time of his capture, accused the Pakistani establishment of not being 'interested in helping us'.

Dolly Advani, whose father Flight Lt Ram Advani went missing when his Canberra aircraft was shot down, rubbished Islamabad's claim that it was not holding any POWs and asked Musharraf to conduct a 'genuine' search of jails.