Stay in Pak was torturous, says expelled staffer's wife

WAGAH (INDO-PAK BORDER): The wives ofthe three officials of Indian High Commission (IHC) expelled from Pakistan, werereticent about giving details of the harassment faced by the families of the IHCemployees, especially women, due to fears over the safety of the remaining staffin Pakistan. Rashmi Handa, Rakhi Singh and Shashi Ramdas, wives ofexpelled counsellor Vipin Handa, secretary RP Singh and attache Vakil Ramdas,respectively, crossed over to India, along with their children, and a dog calledChip, on Wednesday. “It is a big relief for us to be in ourmotherland,� said Rashmi after stepping on Indian territory. Herfeelings were echoed by Shashi, who said she felt as “free as abird�. The Indian government had expelled Sher Mohammad, Mohammad TasneemKhan Counsellor Mansoor Saeed Sheikh and first secretary Mian Mohammed Esif ofthe Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in Delhi on Wednesday, last week, after the“torture� of Sudhir Vyas, charge d affairs of IHC in Islamabad byPakistani intelligence officials. In retaliation, a day later, Pakistanexpelled Handa, Singh, Ramdas and staffer P Sundaram. Rashmi told TNN that hertwo and half year stay in Pakistan was torturous as the (Pakistan intelligenceofficials) never missed a chance to harass IHC officials and their families.She said she was worried about the safety of the IHC staff still inPakistan. Shashi said the Pakistan intelligence kept pestering them, and it wasa great relief to be back home. However, they refused to elaborate on theharassment faced by them, saying that they did not want to jeopardise the safetyof members of the IHC till in Pakistan. It was learnt that the families ofexpelled PHC employees had left for their country on Tuesday.