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G.S. Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, December 26
Two Pakistan nationals — Mohammad Imran Qureshi Warsi and Abdullah — were repatriated to their native place through Attai-Wagah Joint Check post on Wednesday.
A resident of Karachi, Warsi was reunited with his family after 14 years. He was jailed in India for the last 10 years on charges of forgery and spying by the Bhopal court under the Official Secrets Act and the Passport Act, finding him guilty of conspiracy, cheating and forging documents.
In his late 30s, Warsi had come to Kolkatta to meet his relatives on valid documentation in 2004 for 45 days. He married his uncle's daughter Shazia and overstayed. Out of this marriage, he has two sons, Shezaan (13) and Qurbaan (11). They lived in Kolkata only, but he was never allowed to meet them before departure from India.
Warsi said he was at least fortunate to go back to his home, but his fresh battle would begin to get his wife and children back. "I seek help from the Indian government as I would have to go through a legal course in getting my wife and children back to Karachi," he said.
Apart from being on the wrong side of law by managing to procure a fake ration card and PAN card to get an Indian passport made on his name, he was betrayed by his own relatives who informed the police.
In 2008, he went to Bhopal for the purpose of procuring these documents as he wanted to stay with his wife and children in India. He claimed that his parents had moved to Pakistan while some of his uncles stayed in India during Partition.
A dispute arose over the joint ancestral property in India which led to feud between him and his uncles. Meanwhile, they informed the police about him which led to his arrest in 2008 at Bhopal. He was awarded 10 year imprisonment.
His sentence ended in January, but Warsi had to spend two more months in jail because he did not have money to pay the Rs 8,000 fine slapped by the trial court. He was released from Bhopal jail on March 14 and sent to Shahjahanabad Police Station, a nodal station where foreigners are kept till they are repatriated.
The other Pak national, Abdullah, a 21-year-old autistic boy from Mingora Swat in north-western Pakistan, never knew that his passion for Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan would eventually land him in jail.
He was at the Attari-Wagah border with friends on May 25, 2017, to witness the Retreat ceremony, when he jumped over and crossed the Zero Line after the ceremony, telling the Border Security Force personnel he wanted to meet Shah Rukh Khan.
BSF personnel handed him over to the Gharinda police. He was booked under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and sentenced to six months imprisonment at Amritsar Central Jail.
Amritsar Jail Superintendent Arshdeep Singh Gill said due to mental instability, he could not tell clearly about his whereabouts till it was confirmed during the consular access in December last year that he was son of one Zarawar Khan in Swat.
However, it took another year to facilitate his release for want of documentation. The jail authorities also presented him with gifts. While crossing over the Attari-Wagah border he imitated Shah Rukh Khan saying "Love You India". He said he will come again to fulfil his dream of meeting his favourite star.
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