Hyderabad: After a tearful farewell from fellow prisoners at Warangal Central Prison in Telangana, a Pakistani national, Mohammad Arshad Mahmoud, was on his way to Wagah border where he will be handed over to Pakistani authorities.
A special escort accompanied him as he left by road for Wagah in Punjab after he was released following the completion of formalities.
His release came a year after orders were passed as initially Pakistan had refused to acknowledge him as its citizen.
Arshad Mahmood, a resident of Raheemyar Khan, was arrested in Hyderabad on the charges of irregularities in his visa and spying. Prosecution alleged he was in possession of photos of vital defence installations when he was caught on April 30, 2009.
A local court had convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He was lodged in Warangal jail.
However, last year, on August 16, his sentence was commuted and his release was ordered. He remained in jail for another year waiting for the necessary documents.
He will be handed over to Pakistan as part of the exchange of prisoners between the two neighbouring countries.
With tears rolling down his cheeks an emotional Arshad Mahmoud told his fellow inmates that he would have loved to stay back with them, but he had to return to his country and family.
“I am dying to reunite [with] my family after eight long years”, he said.
He said he did not have any complaint against the jail authorities. “Unhon ne mere saath bahut achha sulook kiya, [they treated me very well],” he said.
Jail authorities said that for the past one year Arshad Mahmoud had not been treated as a convict but as a former convict.
Jail authorities including the director general of prisons, VK Singh, pursued his case with the officials of External Affairs and paved the way for his return home.
