Islamabad: Six Pakistani prisoners including a woman and a child reached the country on Tuesday through the Attari-Wagah border after being set free by the Indian Government.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, “Four Pakistan prisoners have already been released and repatriated in 2018, so far.”
Furthermore, it added, “India attaches high priority to addressing all humanitarian issues, including early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen and prisoners in Pakistan’s custody. The release of 147 Indian prisoners, including 146 fishermen, has been secured in 2018, so far.”
Among six prisoners, one prisoner named Mahmed Nadeem, explained, “I was in jail in India for 1.5 years after the Indian Army arrested me from the border. I am thankful to the Indian government for releasing me.”
Another prisoner, named Akhtar-ul-Islam also shared his story, “I am from Lahore. I crossed the border and came to India by mistake. The session court and High Court have set me free from all charges. It feels good that I am going back to my nation. Currently, it’s my 12th year in India. I was 20 when I was caught.”
He also added, “I want to request the governments in India and Pakistan that please don’t do politics when it comes to the life of prisoners because their lives are wasted due to long pending cases.”
Nasreen Akhter, who was sentenced to 10 years and six months, was among the freed prisoners. Her fine was paid by the Pakistani High Commission in January 2017. Nasreen’s family, her daughter and 90-year-old mother, were concerned as she suffers from mental disorders.
According to the High Commission’s spokesperson Khawaja Muaz Tariq, a child, Ali Haroon was also kept in an adolescent home after he crossed the border mistakenly while chasing his mentally-challenged brother. His elder brother reached Pakistan in 2017. Haroon was also among the released prisoners.
A suggestion was raised last year by Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister regarding advancement on humanitarian issues related to elderly, women, children and mentally unsound prisoners.
As a result of such suggestion, in March this year, India and Pakistan had agreed to release and repatriate women prisoners and those above 60 and below 18 years of age.
