Pakistani prisoner released from Warangal jail

According to Sampath, though Arshad's term ended in August last year and the Indian government permitted him to go back to his country, he could not return as the Pakistani government did not respond to his case which delayed the documentation process.

By: PTI

Warangal | August 20, 2017 12:44 AM IST

2 min read

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Indian organizers, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) expressed "grave concern and dismay" at the incident, MEA stated in a press release.

A Pakistani prisoner lodged at the Warangal Central Jail in Warangal was on Saturday released from the prison. Arshad Muhammad was handed over to Habits police personnel of Hyderabad by jail superintendent M Sampath.

According to Sampath, though Arshad’s term ended in August last year and the Indian government permitted him to go back to his country, he could not return as the Pakistani government did not respond to his case which delayed the documentation process.

Arshad then appealed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to help him to go-back to his country, and it took one year for him to receive the clearances. 53-year-old Arshad was sent to jail in 2009 after he was found guilty of treason and spying for Pakistan.

He served sentence at the Chentalguda prison and was later shifted to Warangal Central Prison due to security reasons. His jail term had ended on August 16, 2016, but he did not get the required permission from Pakistan, said the jail official.

Sampath said, “The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued orders asking the Police to hand him over at the Wagah Border.”

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