RAHIM YAR KHAN:
A Pakistani national who spent 25 years in Indian prisons after accidentally crossing the border while hunting has finally returned home following orders from India’s Supreme Court, ending a long and painful chapter.
Asghar Ali, a resident of Chak 170-P near Sadiqabad in Rahim Yar Khan district, arrived in his hometown on Sunday after his release, where he was warmly received by local residents who gathered to welcome him.
According to official and family accounts, Asghar Ali mistakenly crossed into Indian territory in 2000 during a hunting trip, after which Indian security forces arrested him and charged him with terrorism and espionage.
An Indian court later sentenced him to prison until 2010, despite his insistence that he had crossed the border inadvertently and had no links to any militants or intelligence activities.
Despite serving his sentence, Asghar Ali remained imprisoned after being accused of participating in an alleged attack while still in prison, a charge that led to another conviction by an Indian court.
Following an appeal, India’s Supreme Court reviewed the case and issued orders for his release, paving the way for his return to Pakistan after a quarter of a century behind bars. Speaking after his arrival, Asghar Ali said he faced serious difficulties during his detention, alleging repeated physical abuse and prolonged suffering in Indian jails during his incarceration.
He maintained that false accusations were repeatedly made against him to prolong his imprisonment, reiterating that his initial arrest was solely due to an accidental border crossing during a hunting expedition.
