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Roop Lal back, after 26 years in Pak jail

After languishing in a Pakistani prison for over 26 years, 57-year old Roop Lal Saharia, returned home today to an emotional reunion with his family.

Saharia, who was flown in by a Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-270, looked frail and was received at the airport by senior officials of the Indian government, besides family members.

A ministry of external affairs spokesman said it had taken almost two years for Islamabad to release Saharia, a jawan, who was arrested by the Pakistan security forces on charges of espionage in 1974.

Saharia was awarded the death sentence the same year, which was later commuted to life imprisonment after the intervention of the Pakistani Human Rights Commission.

The spokesman recalled that India had unilaterally released Pakistani security prisoner Sazwara Khan in June 1998. ''We had hoped that Pakistan would respond quickly to our humane gesture. It has, however, taken them almost two years to do so''.

Saharia, who was lodged in a Sahiwal prison, suffered a stroke a few years ago.

His release was made possible due to efforts of the Pakistani Human Rights Commission, which had petitioned to chief executive Gen Pervez Musharraf, who ordered his release yesterday.

UNI

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