Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Entered India in ’18, two Pak nationals sent home

- HT Correspond­ent

AMRITSAR: In a goodwill gesture, two Pakistan nationals were repatriate­d to the neighbouri­ng nation via the Attari-wagah border on Tuesday.

The officials of the border security force (BSF), led by assistant commandant Sanjay, handed over the duo to the Pakistan Rangers at the zero line around 1.30pm.

They were brought at the integrated check post (ICP), Attari, for repatriati­on at around 11.30am. After the completion of the immigratio­n process, they were handed over to the rangers.

One of the boys Mubarak, alias Mubarshar Bilal, of Bazirpur village in Pakistan’s Kasur district, had been languishin­g in a Hoshiarpur juvenile home even as he was acquitted by the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) more than a year ago.

Mubarak was 16 when he had entered the Indian territory through the Internatio­nal Border in Khemkaran village of Tarn Taran district in February 2018. His father Mohamad Akbar had said Mubarak left home after they reprimande­d him over a minor fight with his siblings and didn’t return.

The family had come to know about his arrest in India after a month.

On September 4, 2018, Juvenile Justice Board principal magistrate Anuradha delivered a judgment in favour of Mubarak by acquitting him of all charges.

Another Pakistan national, Sajjad Haider, a native of Lahore, who was lodged in Lampur detention centre, New Delhi, was sent back home. According to Pakistani media reports, Sajjad inadverten­tly crossed over to the Indian territory in November 2018.

“After having a minor scuffle with my family members, I inadverten­tly crossed over to India and was nabbed by the BSF men. I am happy that I will meet my family after so long. I am thankful to Indian government for releasing me,” said Mubarak while talking to the media at Attari.

WHILE MUBSHAR BILAL WAS LANGUISHIN­G IN HOSHIARPUR JUVENILE HOME, SAJJAD HAIDER WAS AT A DETENTION CENTRE IN DELHI

 ?? ANI ?? Mubarak, alias Mubarshar Bilal (2nd from left), and Sajjad Haider with Pakistani Rangers on Tuesday.
ANI Mubarak, alias Mubarshar Bilal (2nd from left), and Sajjad Haider with Pakistani Rangers on Tuesday.

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