Mumbai man's parents thank govt, Sushma Swaraj on release of son from Pak jail

The parents of Hamid Nihal Ansari, the Mumbai man who was arrested in Pakistan in 2012, thanked the Narendra Modi government and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday as their 6-year-long struggle bore fruit.

Hamid Ansari was released from a Pakistani jail on Tuesday. The 33-year-old engineering and management graduate was lodged in the Peshawar Central Jail after being sentenced by a military court to three years' imprisonment for possessing a fake Pakistani identity card on December 15, 2015.

He was arrested in Pakistan in 2012 for illegally entering the country from Afghanistan, reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online. His jail term ended on December 15 but he was not able to leave for India as his legal documents were not ready.

On Thursday, the Peshawar High Court granted the Pakistan government a month deadline to complete his repatriation process. 

Speaking to WION, his parents thanked Indian, Pakistani governments. "Thanks to both the governments, Madam Sushma Swaraj and all those people who helped us right from the beginning who stood on our side in our time of crisis. Credit goes to them. And even the authority of Pakistan, they helped us. Always felt they are very supportive, very helpful. very happy," Hamid's mother Fauzia Ansari said. 

His father also thanked people of both sides of the border who helped the family in getting their son back. 

"We are very happy. no words to express our gratitude and happiness. our thanks to all the people from the govt of India and govt of Pakistan. so many people were supportive. We are very, thankful to all people in both Govts of India, Pakistan," Nihal Ansari said. 

Journalist-activist Jatin Desai who tirelessly worked for Hamid's release from captivity expressed satisfaction on the freedom of a man who followed his love to Pakistan. 

"I am thrilled and happy. It is a historic day between India, Pakistan relations. After so many years, he comes back," he said. "He was an innocent guy, he went to Pakistan for the sake of his love. He was in love with a girl from Kohat. He just entered Pakistan and he was caught."

Desai said it was now time for the release of other prisoners. "Hamid is not alone. There are in India and Pakistan. They need to be released. They need to be seen from a humanitarian perspective, which we don't. Hamid can set an example. Other prisoners, this is the time, India and Pakistan to release prisoners from the custody," he said. 

Desai said a lot of work is to be done to free hundreds of Indian fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails. 

"I am also interested in fishermen who got arrested to be released. There are 400 Indian fishermen in Pakistan custody and 150 Pakistan fishermen in Indian custody. It is very difficult," he said. 

"It is because of lack of trust. we need to have trust between the 2 countries. We need to have trust between people of 2 countries. In the case of Hamid, I must say, that in Pakistan, a couple of friends and others who tirelessly, worked to get him released. there are senior lawyers. women lawyers, who worked to see he gets released, without any expectations. its also victory of Indian and Pakistani media, Indian and Pakistani social activists," he added.