NEW DELHI – Eight months after two Pakistani sisters were released inNovember 2017 after serving 10 years in a local jail for drug trafficking,their 64-year-old accomplice, Nasreen Akhtar, was also freed from jail andhanded over to Pakistan on Tuesday. Nasreena’s 90-year-old mother eagerlyawaits her in Lahore, Hindustan Times has reported.
In May 2006, Nasreen, the sisters, Fathima and Mumtaz, and two others,Rashida Bibi and Rashid, were arrested for trafficking for drugs at theAttari Railway Station. The five Pakistanis were sentenced to ten years injail and fined ₹4 lakh each. They were unable to pay the fine and theirjail terms were extended though their sentence ended in 2016.
Nasreen’s counsel Navjot Kaur Chabha said, “Nasreen’s relatives had notpaid her fine. Thus, she had to undergo two more years in jail up toNovember 2018. The Pakistan embassy paid ₹3 lakh fine for Nasreen and shehas been repatriated.” Rashid remains in jail.
Over the past few months, the Pakistan media had raised the voice ofNasreen’s 90-year-old ailing mother and her wish to see her daughter oncebefore she died.
Nasreen came out of Amritsar Central Jail at 11.30am in a wheel-chair.Greeting all those present with a Sat Sri Akal, she said, “My mother is90-year-old and it is her wish to see me before dying. I am very happy thatI will meet my mother.” She added, “There should always be peace in betweenboth the countries.” The BSF handed her over to Pakistani Rangers about 2pm.
Amritsar jail superintendent Arshdeep Singh Gill said, “With Nasreen, wehave also released another Pakistani prisoner, Aftab, who was arrestedunder the Passport Act, 1967. We have also given ₹50,500 to Nasreen for herlabour work in jail.” He added there were around 45 Pakistani prisoners inIndian jails.
Chabha added there were a number of Indian prisoners in Pakistan and manyPakistani prisoners in India, who had completed their sentences, but couldnot be repatriated as they could not pay the fines imposed on them. “NGOsof both countries should come forth to help such prisoners,” she added.