Pakistanis languish in jails despite completing term

JODHPUR: Bureaucratic red-tape is taking a toll on the prospects of Pakistani nationals in Indian jails waiting to return to their homes in Pakistan despite having completed their sentences in prisons here for various crimes.
A most recent victim of this delay is a Pakistani citizen, Syed Mohammad Taqi Naqvi, who completed a two-year sentence and was released from Jodhpur Central Jail on June 30.But in absence of any directions from the ministry of home affairs, this septuagenarian, a heart patient and a diabetic, is back in the same jail for no fault of his.
“Now he will have to wait in jail until directions regarding his deportation are obtained,” said a CID official who said the government was informed about Naqvi’s case on June 27.
Naqvi was caught with fake Indian currency worth Rs 10,000 at Munabao on March13, 2010, while coming to India by Thar Express, and subsequently sentenced to two-year imprisonment with a penalty of Rs 2,500.
“He completed his sentence on July 1 but the day being Sunday, he was released on June 30 and handed over to the concerned police station,” said jail superintendent AR Nyazi.
But with formalities about his deportation still pending and no place to keep such nationals for this period, Naqvi is back in the same jail – this time indefinitely under section 109 of Cr PC.
In absence of similar MHA directions in case of Habeeb Mohammed, a Pakistani national who, too, was released from the same jail about a year back, had to remain in jail.
“He was later shifted to Alwar jail considering its proximity to New Delhi, where he will be waiting for his final release if the MHA is through with the process,” said a CBI official.
This avoidable delay by the government in deciding on the deportation of Pakistani nationals is leading them into fresh incarceration – something for which the government could be sued by the individual in more developed democracies in the West.