Islamabad, June 05: In a show of diplomatic muscle flexing, Pakistan today expelled Indian High Commission staffer Kulwant Singh on charges of spying hours after the injured staffer was prevented from going over to India for treatment of his injuries sustained after being abducted by intelligence agencies here on June 1.

A foreign office statement said Singh has been declared persona non grata, on account of his involvement in activities not compatible with his official status, an expression used in diplomatic parlance for spying. The Indian High Commission has been informed that the official should leave Pakistan within seven days.

The expulsion followed yesterday`s high drama on the Islamabad-Lahore motorway when Pakistan Police intercepted a convoy of vehicles of the Indian High Commission carrying Singh to the Wagah border to get him urgent medical attention and asked them to turn back. Singh, who was abducted on June 1while he was returning home with his son, was accompanied by his wife, two children, a doctor and other Indian officials.

The Indian High Commission said Singh was being carried on stretcher as he was unable to move. He was being brought to India as he was not allowed to get proper medical treatment for serious injuries suffered during a four and half hour violent interrogation at the hands of Pakistan intelligence officials.

His convoy was intercepted on the grounds that the Indian High Commission had not fulfilled the procedural requirements. This was rejected by Indian officials who said all the permits had been obtained. Bureau Report