ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani national has returned home after spending 25 years in an Indian jail. The Indian Supreme Court ordered his release from jail. Sadiqabad Residents gave Asghar Ali a warm welcome upon his arrival.
His release marked the end of a long and painful ordeal that began when he accidentally crossed the border while hunting.
Border Crossing Incident Led to Decades of Imprisonment
Asghar Ali, a resident of Chak 170-P near Sadiqabad, mistakenly crossed into Indian territory in 2000 during a hunting trip. Indian security forces detained him and later charged him with terrorism and espionage. An Indian court subsequently sentenced him to imprisonment until 2010.
However, despite completing his sentence, Asghar Ali said authorities did not release him. Instead, he alleged that officials fabricated new charges against him just before his scheduled release, accusing him of planning an attack while he remained in jail. Based on these allegations, another court handed down a fresh sentence, which extended his imprisonment for several more years.
Consequently, Ali remained behind bars as his family continued to seek justice across the border.
Supreme Court Appeal Brings Freedom After Legal Struggle
After years of legal struggle, Ali filed an appeal with the Indian Supreme Court. The court accepted his plea and ordered his release, paving the way for his return to Pakistan. Upon reaching his hometown, residents gathered in large numbers to greet him, offering prayers, garlands, and emotional embraces.
Speaking to the media, Ali said he endured severe physical and mental torture in Indian prisons, including repeated beatings. Moreover, he maintained that authorities registered false cases against him and punished him solely because he had mistakenly crossed the border while hunting. He added that his prolonged detention caused immense suffering to both him and his family.
Residents of Chak 170-P described his return as a moment of collective relief and called for greater protection for civilians living near border areas to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
