The Hindu : National : India’s gift to Pakistan on New Year

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Wednesday, Dec 31, 2008
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India’s gift to Pakistan on New Year

Sixty-six prisoners sent back as a goodwill gesture

— Photo: PTI

Awaiting reunion: A Pakistani and her daughter at the Attari border following their release from prison on Tuesday.

Attari Border (Punjab): Discounting the war threat rhetoric, India on Tuesday repatriated 66 Pakistani prisoners to their home country as a goodwill gesture on the eve of the New Year.

The Pakistanis, including 28 women and four children, were lodged in various jails in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Amritsar and Delhi. Most of them were put behind bars for entering or staying in the country with forged or expired travel documents.

This is the first release of prisoners from here after the November 26 Mumbai terror attack for which India has blamed terrorist elements in Pakistan.

Among those released was Mohammad Asif who was arrested in Delhi for overstaying in India.

Mr. Asif, who is married to an Indian woman and has three children, said he was returning to Pakistan to complete the formalities to take his wife there. He has been lodged in the Tihar jail for three years.

“I am glad to be freed. I will complete the formalities to be united with my family again,” Mr. Asif said before leaving.

A majority of the prisoners were thankful to India for repatriating them despite the growing tension between India and Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attack. They regretted the terror attack and said that if anyone from Pakistan was involved, he should be punished.

“This repatriation is the best new year’s gift for me. I am happy to be going back home,” Karachi resident Shehzad, who was lodged in the Jodhpur jail.

“The repatriation of these prisoners is a New Year’s gift from India,” a Border Security Force official said here.

Naif Ahmed, who was to arrive from a Mumbai prison, could not reach here in time and is likely to be sent home later this week.

Out of the 66 prisoners, 51 are from jails in Rajasthan and Gujarat while 14 were lodged in the Amritsar jail. Some of them said that they had been duped by travel agents in Pakistan who gave them forged documents to come here.

“The Mumbai attack was a horrible thing. Both countries should resolve issues before them. They should refrain from going to war as people will suffer,” Amir Ali said. — IANS

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