Return of Pakistani citizens from India stuck, two prisoners stuck in jail for years

After the Pahalgam terror attack, India has ordered Pakistani citizens to leave the country, but two foreign prisoners lodged in Telangana jails are still stuck in diplomatic and administrative troubles. India wants to send them back, but Pakistan is refusing to accept them as its citizens. These include 76-year-old Sher Ali Keshwani and 53-year-old Mohammad Nazir.

Mohammad Nazir: Fake identity and uncertain citizenship

Nazir was arrested by the BSF near the Indo-Pak border in Bhuj district of Gujarat in November 2013. During interrogation, he told that he is a resident of Karachi and came to India in 2006 via Nepal. He created an identity of a Unani doctor in Hyderabad with the help of fake documents and also married a local woman.

However, the court dismissed the charges under the Foreigners Act due to lack of evidence of his being a Pakistani and convicted him only of false medical practice. He was sentenced to five years, which ended in 2018, but Nazir is still lodged in Chanchalguda jail as Pakistan has not accepted his identity.

Sher Ali Keshwani: Acquitted of espionage, but citizenship in doubt

Sher Ali Keshwani was accused of sending money to a Pakistani spy in 2003. He was tried under the Foreigners Act, Official Secrets Act and criminal conspiracy. But in 2015, the court acquitted him of all charges due to lack of evidence. Despite this, he has not been released till date as his citizenship has not been determined.

Keshwani claims to be a resident of Mumbai, but he has no documents or family that can prove this claim. Pakistan has also refused to accept him as its citizen. For this reason, he is kept in ‘safe custody’ in Cherlapally jail.

Governments silent, prisoners trapped

In both the cases, letters were sent to Pakistan every year through the Home Ministry, but no response has come so far. These prisoners were also provided with consular services from the Pakistani Consulate, but Pakistan did not recognize their citizenship.

The Indian judicial system has done its job, but international politics and the tussle over borders have become the biggest hurdle in the freedom of these people.