Team of Pak judges visit Punjab jails
AMRITSAR:  Hapless Mukhtyar Ahmed a Pakistani national languishing in the Indian jail for the last eighteen years heaved sigh of relief when he learnt that now he could go back to Pakistan before he dies.

Muktyar would be released in the next fifteen days along with 29 other Pakistani prisoners, informed Superintendent Central Jail Amritsar Captain S.P. Singh here today.

Captain Singh said that today Indo-Pak Joint Justice Committee visited the Amritsar Central Jail here today and interacted with all the 55 Pak nationals who were arrested in various offences.

Captain Singh said Indo-Pak Joint Justice Committee members were apprised about the 30 Pak prisoners who have already completed their jail terms as awarded by the Indian court of Law and now they have become internees and lodged in the transit camp of the jail.

Captain Singh said that all the 30 Pak nationals were provided councilor access long ago but Pakistan Government was not coming forward to give green signal for their repatriation.

Captain Singh said that Committee members who were particularly form Pakistan informed that in the next fifteen days 'Emergency Travel Certificate' would be made ready by the Pakistan High Commission based at New Delhi to facilitate the repatriation of 30 Pak nationals who were given councilor access as already been identified by the Pakistan Government.

Four retired judges from the Supreme Court of Pakistan Justice Nasir Ahmed Zahid, Justice Fazal Kareem, Mia Mohammad Ajmel and Justice Abdul Kadir Chowdry. Similarly three retired judges from Indian side Justice Amarbir Gill, Justice Amarjit Chowdry and Justice M.A. Khan were the members of Indo Pak Joint Justice Committee who visited the Amritsar Jail here today.

Captain Singh said that committee members would also visit in Jaipur and Tihar Jail where Pak prisoners are lodged with in the week period. However, Pakistani members informed that nearly 450 Indian nationals were still in the different jail of Pakistan including fishermen and some who inadvertently crossed the international border. They also clarified that none of the war prisoner with the any of the Pakistani Jail.

Talking about Mukhtyar Ahmed, Captain Singh informed that Muktyar Ahmed (60) was arrested in December 1989 by Border Security Force (BSF) near Indo-Pak border on the charges of espionage besides carrying opium. After two-year long trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to seven-year imprisonment. He spent the days of his imprisonment in Patiala- Ferozpur and Amritsar jails respectively.

Captain Singh said that the sentence of Muktyar was completed in 1997.  "But the tardy and jading process of law in Pakistan was reluctant to seek his repatriation despite the umpteen reminders by the Indian Government in this regard", Resident of district Kasoor in Lahore west of Pakistan, Muktyar claims himself to be an owner of 65 acre of agriculture land there.  Married in 1982 he fathered one daughter and two sons.  "All the siblings are on the threshold of marriageable age while my elder son vows not to get married till I return home in Pakistan", Muktyar told to jail officials while shedding tears from eyes.