Attari (Punjab): In a goodwill gesture,
India on Wednesday repatriated eight Pakistani prisoners who were
lodged in various jails in the country.
All the prisoners crossed over to Pakistan through the
land transit route after they were issued emergency travel
certificate by the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.
In a joint appeal to Indian and Pakistan governments,
they requested early release of all prisoners languishing in
each others' jails, particularly those who had completed their
sentence.
The Pakistan nationals also thanked the India
government for extending necessary facilities to them.
Mohammed Sagir said that he had come to India on
Samjhauta Express to visit his relatives in Delhi where he was
arrested in 2004 for illegal stay as his visa had expired.
Sagir said that he underwent seven years detention in
Indian jail.
Abdul Hamid, released from Central Jail Amritsar, said
that he had sneaked into Indian territory through Dera Baba
Nanak Sector in Gurdaspur district of Punjab and was arrested
in 2004. He too spent seven years in Indian jail.
While Abdul Hamid and Yakub Shah were released from
Central Jail Amritsar, Zulfikar Rana and Mohammed Yar were
from Rajasthan Jail. Mohammed Hussain and Nasibjada were from
Bhuj jail of Gujarat, Mohammed Sagir from Delhi jail and
Mohhamed Arif Hussain was released from Jammu jail.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, May 11, 2011, 21:23