LAHORE: An Indian woman and her minor son, victims of human trafficking, were handed over to Indian forces at the Wagah border after completing their sentence for illegally entering Pakistan last year, a Pakistani official said on Thursday.
After completing their jail sentence, Wahida Begum and her minor son Faiz Khan were released from a jail in Quetta in Balochistan province and handed over to the Border Security Force at the Wagah border on Wednesday.
According to federal government officials, Wahida, a resident of Assam's Nagao district, was arrested along with her son while illegally entering Pakistan from Afghanistan through the Chaman border last year.
Wahida told officials here that she was cheated by an Indian travel agent, due to which she reached Pakistan.
“After the death of my husband in 2022, I decided to take my son to Canada,” she said in her statement to police in Pakistan.For this purpose, I sold my property and paid a huge amount to an Indian agent."
She said the agent traveled with them to Dubai and from there to Afghanistan last year.
He promised to take the mother and son from Afghanistan to Canada.
“However, in Afghanistan, he took all my money and our passports and managed to escape,” she said.
Wahida further said that to reach her motherland (India), she and her son entered Pakistan through Chaman border where they were arrested by Pakistani authorities (under the Foreigners Act).“We were later granted consular access and the process of confirming your citizenship took several months,” he said, adding that his Pakistani lawyer informed his mother in India about his ordeal.
Subsequently, Wahida's family contacted the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and the Indian High Commission in Islamabad seeking help for her safe return.
Indian High Commission officials reportedly took up his case with the Interior Ministry in Islamabad.
Finally, on Wednesday, Waheeda and her son were released after completion of their sentence and were handed over to BSF at Wagah Border.
Apart from them, two other Indian nationals - Shabbir Ahmed and Suraj Pal were also handed over to BSF on Wednesday.Ahmed was released from Malir Jail in Karachi, while Pal was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore after completing his sentence.
After completing their jail sentence, Wahida Begum and her minor son Faiz Khan were released from a jail in Quetta in Balochistan province and handed over to the Border Security Force at the Wagah border on Wednesday.
According to federal government officials, Wahida, a resident of Assam's Nagao district, was arrested along with her son while illegally entering Pakistan from Afghanistan through the Chaman border last year.
Wahida told officials here that she was cheated by an Indian travel agent, due to which she reached Pakistan.
“After the death of my husband in 2022, I decided to take my son to Canada,” she said in her statement to police in Pakistan.For this purpose, I sold my property and paid a huge amount to an Indian agent."
She said the agent traveled with them to Dubai and from there to Afghanistan last year.
He promised to take the mother and son from Afghanistan to Canada.
“However, in Afghanistan, he took all my money and our passports and managed to escape,” she said.
Wahida further said that to reach her motherland (India), she and her son entered Pakistan through Chaman border where they were arrested by Pakistani authorities (under the Foreigners Act).“We were later granted consular access and the process of confirming your citizenship took several months,” he said, adding that his Pakistani lawyer informed his mother in India about his ordeal.
Subsequently, Wahida's family contacted the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and the Indian High Commission in Islamabad seeking help for her safe return.
Indian High Commission officials reportedly took up his case with the Interior Ministry in Islamabad.
Finally, on Wednesday, Waheeda and her son were released after completion of their sentence and were handed over to BSF at Wagah Border.
Apart from them, two other Indian nationals - Shabbir Ahmed and Suraj Pal were also handed over to BSF on Wednesday.Ahmed was released from Malir Jail in Karachi, while Pal was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore after completing his sentence.
