LAHORE: A Pakistani citizen was released from an Indian prison on Tuesday, after spending 25 years in the neighbouring country.
The citizen named Sirajuddin Mohammad reached Pakistan after he was set free by India. The Ansar Burney Trust played a major role in bringing Siraj to Pakistan.
Siraj erroneously made his way into India at the age of 11. After running from his home in Mansehra, Siraj reached Lahore and mistakenly took Samjhota Express to India. After spending a great deal of time in India, Siraj married a woman from a Muslim family in 2005.
In 2009, Siraj presented himself before police and expressed the desire to go to Pakistan with his family.
Following which police sent him to jail. An Indian NGO fought for Siraj’s right to Indian citizenship, however, he was sent to jail again.
After his plight went viral in India, the Ansar Burney Trust strived to bring him home; when he was then handed over to Edhi Welfare Organisation. Siraj says his heart aches for his wife, two twin sons and a daughter back in India.
Published in Daily Times, March 14th 2018.
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