Islamabad: An Indian prisoner died of an electric shock in a jail in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on Monday, prompting a leading human rights activist to demand an inquiry into his death.

Fisherman Bhagwan Das, who was being held in Landhi Jail in Karachi, died of an electric shock, officials said.

Das had gone along with other prisoners to a section of the jail to wash clothes on Monday morning when he suffered an electric shock, TV news channels reported.

Rights activist and former human rights minister Ansar Burney said he had asked authorities to conduct a probe as Das had died in "mysterious circumstances".

"This man was a prisoner and it is a bit hard to believe that a prisoner can die of an electric shock. It is not as if he was at home or at his workplace and could have been exposed to electrical equipment that could have caused his death," Burney said.

"I have asked authorities to ensure that Das' death is investigated to find out what exactly happened," he said.

It was not immediately clear as to when Das had been arrested. Scores of Indian fishermen arrested for illegally fishing in Pakistani waters are being held in Landhi Jail.

Source : PTI