RAHIM YAR KHAN:
A Pakistani citizen who spent 25 years in Indian jails after accidentally crossing the border while hunting has finally returned home following orders from the Indian Supreme Court, ending a long and painful chapter.
Asghar Ali, a resident of Chak 170-P near Sadiqabad in Rahim Yar Khan district, reached his hometown on Sunday after his release, where he was warmly welcomed by local residents who gathered to welcome him back.
According to official and family accounts, Asghar Ali entered Indian territory by mistake 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, although he insisted he had crossed the border involuntarily and had no links to militant or intelligence activities.
Despite serving his sentence, Asghar Ali remained incarcerated after being accused of taking part 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 ordered 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 had faced serious difficulties during his detention, reporting repeated physical abuse and prolonged suffering in Indian prisons throughout his incarceration.
He claimed that false allegations were repeatedly made against him to prolong his imprisonment, reiterating that his first arrest was solely the result of an accidental border crossing during a hunting expedition.
