Jailed Pakistani’s plea for release to be heard soon

September 6th, 2011 - 12:12 am ICT by IANS  

New Delhi, Sep 5 (IANS) The Delhi government Monday informed the Delhi High Court that the petition of a Pakistani national, who pleaded for his release after being lodged in Tihar jail over 17 years for plotting a terror act, will be considered by the Sentence Review Board (SRB).

Khalid Mehmood, a resident of Lahore, approached the court pleading that he was convicted under the provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) by a lower court in 1996 for planning terrorist acts and possession of firearms.

“The petitioner has undergone actual imprisonment for over 17 years and 20 years with remission and so he deserves to be sympathetically considered for premature release from jail under the sentencing guidelines …passed by the Lt Governor of Delhi,” the petition said.

According to the guidelines, certain convicts are eligible to be considered for premature release after having served a sentence of 14 years, it said, adding Mehmood was convicted for planning the terror act but in fact he did not take part in any such incident.

Additional Standing Counsel Rajesh Mahajan, appearing for Delhi government, told Justice Mukta Gupta that the SRB is scheduled to hold its next meeting on Sep 9, and the jail authority will place the case of Mehmood, who was arrested at the age of 18, for consideration.

Following the lawyer’s submission, Justice Gupta adjourned the matter for Nov 28 for further hearing.

Mehmood was studying in class 11 at the time of his arrest Feb 17, 1994 from Gokalpuri area of east Delhi.

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