ID :
31682
Sat, 11/22/2008 - 22:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/31682
The shortlink copeid
Nasir returns to Pakistan sans Bollywood dream
Attari, Nov 21 (PTI) Pakistani teenager Nasir Sultan, whose dreams of pursuing a career in Bollywood landed him in a jail in Punjab, was reunited with his father Friday with hopes that he will return soon to India with valid travel documents.
Indian authorities withdrew the case against 15-year-
old Nasir, released him from prison and repatriated him after
leading rights activist Ansar Burney and other civil society
groups took up his case. Nasir was booked under the Foreigners
Act after his arrest.
The boy was received by his father Sultan Zareen and
representatives of the Ansar Burney Trust on his arrival at
the Pakistani side of the Wagah border post.
The boy had crossed the border in Ferozepur sector in
a school uniform and without travel documents on August 16
with a dream of meeting his idol Shah Rukh Khan. He was
arrested by the Border Security Force and was lodged in the
Faridkot juvenile home since then. The Union Home Ministry
issued the orders for his release Thursday.
The boy was given a warm send-off from the juvenile
home by the local police and civil officials, including
Faridkot Deputy Commissioner V K Meena.
Before crossing over to Pakistan, Nasir expressed
gratitude towards the Indian government and said, "I am
thankful to the government for setting me free but I will
request it to release other jail mates as they are longing to
meet their families in Pakistan.
"After my Matriculation, I will again attempt to visit
to India with valid passport and visa. I will never commit my
previous mistake to cross the international border with these
documents."
But he regretted that he could not meet Shah Rukh.
"That will be in my mind," he said.
"I will also tell my friends and other Pakistanis
never to cross the border illegally. I know the pain of
separation," he said.
Before repatriation, Nasir was gifted cloths, sweets
and flowers.
Nasir, a class X student, hails from a remote town in
Dir district of Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier
Province. Like most Pakistani boys his age, Nasir is an avid
Bollywood fan and was fascinated by the stunts in Hindi films.
Two days after he had crossed the border on August 16,
his father, who works at a petrol pump, got a call from Nasir,
who said he was on his way to Mumbai. This was followed soon
after by the news of his arrest.
An FIR was registered by Punjab Police against Nasir
for entering India without passport and visa. However, on the
intervention of the Union Home Ministry, the police dropped
charges against Nasir which paved the way for his
repatriation.
Burney, who had filed a petition seeking Nasir's
release in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, thanked India
and the media for their support for efforts to free the
teenager.
Meanwhile, Ansar Burney said his Trust had initiated
steps for the release of another Pakistani teenager being held
in a juvenile home at Faridkot. Sunil Ashraf, aged about 14 or
15 years, was arrested after he illegally entered India in
May. Ashraf is a resident of Mandi Bahauddin town in Punjab
province, Burney told PTI on phone. PTI
Indian authorities withdrew the case against 15-year-
old Nasir, released him from prison and repatriated him after
leading rights activist Ansar Burney and other civil society
groups took up his case. Nasir was booked under the Foreigners
Act after his arrest.
The boy was received by his father Sultan Zareen and
representatives of the Ansar Burney Trust on his arrival at
the Pakistani side of the Wagah border post.
The boy had crossed the border in Ferozepur sector in
a school uniform and without travel documents on August 16
with a dream of meeting his idol Shah Rukh Khan. He was
arrested by the Border Security Force and was lodged in the
Faridkot juvenile home since then. The Union Home Ministry
issued the orders for his release Thursday.
The boy was given a warm send-off from the juvenile
home by the local police and civil officials, including
Faridkot Deputy Commissioner V K Meena.
Before crossing over to Pakistan, Nasir expressed
gratitude towards the Indian government and said, "I am
thankful to the government for setting me free but I will
request it to release other jail mates as they are longing to
meet their families in Pakistan.
"After my Matriculation, I will again attempt to visit
to India with valid passport and visa. I will never commit my
previous mistake to cross the international border with these
documents."
But he regretted that he could not meet Shah Rukh.
"That will be in my mind," he said.
"I will also tell my friends and other Pakistanis
never to cross the border illegally. I know the pain of
separation," he said.
Before repatriation, Nasir was gifted cloths, sweets
and flowers.
Nasir, a class X student, hails from a remote town in
Dir district of Pakistan's troubled North West Frontier
Province. Like most Pakistani boys his age, Nasir is an avid
Bollywood fan and was fascinated by the stunts in Hindi films.
Two days after he had crossed the border on August 16,
his father, who works at a petrol pump, got a call from Nasir,
who said he was on his way to Mumbai. This was followed soon
after by the news of his arrest.
An FIR was registered by Punjab Police against Nasir
for entering India without passport and visa. However, on the
intervention of the Union Home Ministry, the police dropped
charges against Nasir which paved the way for his
repatriation.
Burney, who had filed a petition seeking Nasir's
release in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, thanked India
and the media for their support for efforts to free the
teenager.
Meanwhile, Ansar Burney said his Trust had initiated
steps for the release of another Pakistani teenager being held
in a juvenile home at Faridkot. Sunil Ashraf, aged about 14 or
15 years, was arrested after he illegally entered India in
May. Ashraf is a resident of Mandi Bahauddin town in Punjab
province, Burney told PTI on phone. PTI
