India hands over 28 Pakistani prisoners
August 18th, 2010 - 8:45 pm ICT by ANIBy Ravinder Singh Robin
Wagah, Aug.18 (ANI): Border Security Force personnel on Wednesday handed over 28 Pakistan nationals to the Pakistan Rangers at the zero line of Attari - Wagah land route after they completed their sentences.
These persons served their jail term in different Indian jails under varius charges. Two of these freed persons included two Pakistanis who had been jailed for a bank robbery to fund the 1999 Kandahar hijack of Indian Airlines Flight 814.
India released these prisoners after completion of their jail terms.
Of these 28 Pak nationals three were in Maharashtra, eight which included a woman in Jammu and Kashmir, two in Rajasthan, eleven in Punjab and four in Delhi jails.
The hand over of these prisoners was delayed, as Pakistani authorities could not complete the identification process at the earliest.
According to the available information, in 2008, the Bombay High Court had ordered for deportation of Haji Iqbal and Mohammed Asif. The duo was found guilty in Khandhar Hijacking incident.
But delays from the Pakistan High Commission in completing the formalities led to their prolonged stay in India.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistani militants on December 24, 1999 hijacked IC 814 with 174 passengers and 11 crew members that ended with the release of three dreaded militants including Maulana Masood Azhar, founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Iqbal and Asif were convicted of helping the masterminds of the hijack by funded them about 7 lack rupees that were looted from Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank branch in Borivli.
Mukhtair Ahmed, who has spent last 20 years in Indian jails, said that he thanked the both government for his release and just want to see his family through my eyes. The Indian security personnel on espionage charges arrested Mukhtair in 1990.
Although sentenced for seven years of jail term, Mukhtair had to spend another 13 years in the jail. For, the Pakistani authorities refused to accept him, as they did not confirm his identity as a Pakistani national. (ANI)
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Tags: bank robbery, bombay high court, border security force, cooperative bank, indian airlines flight, indian security, jail term, jail terms, jails, jaish, jammu and kashmir, masterminds, mohammed asif, mohammed iqbal, pakistan high commission, pakistan rangers, pakistani authorities, varius, wagah, zero line