TORONTO, Sept 6: A prominent Canadian parliamentarian has asked the government to ensure security and safety of the arrested Pakistanis, mostly students, who are receiving “death threats” from other prison inmates.

Svend Robinson, of the opposition NDP (New Democratic Party) has also demanded the release of all 19 Pakistanis, who, he said, have been detained without any charges and despite the fact the police chief feels they pose no threat to the safety of Canada. “We now are hearing of death threats against them by other prison inmates,” he said.

In a strongly-worded letter to Canada’s External Affairs Minister Bill Graham, who is now on a tour to Pakistan, Robinson said: “I urge you to intervene and take whatever steps are possible to ensure the security and safety of these detained individuals.”

Svend Robinson, who is better known in the Arab and Muslim world for his confrontation with Israeli soldiers at a roadblock near Ramallah said: “I would underline the adverse affect this detention is having in Pakistan. This certainly risks having a negative impact on Canadian soldiers serving in neighbouring Afghanistan.”