Petition against IAF pilot in Lahore High Court a plot to glorify Pak’s legal system

Ending several hours of excruciatingly delay, India's hero, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, finally returned to the country via Wagah border at 9:21 pm, sporting a light smile under his signature mustache.

Wg Cdr Abhinandan was supposed to enter around the time of the beating the retreat ceremony but his handing over was delayed twice by the Pakistani authorities. The delay, Pakistan said, was due to several factors that included a petition that was filed against his release in the Lahore High Court.

But Pakistani army probably had something else in mind and wanted to play mind games with its Indian counterpart, said sources. The petition, sources said, was a ploy used by the Pakistan Army to glorify Pakistan's legal system.

Moreover, the petition could have been easily dismissed even without hearing as it was the Pakistan government that had agreed to return Abhinandan and the court had no jurisdiction over a prisoner being handed over under the Geneva Conventions. But, the court chose to hear it fully.

Other possible reasons that slowly started appearing as the cause for the delay was a video shoot that was deliberately done by the Pakistani army authorities, perhaps using coercive methods, to get an upper hand in the propaganda warfare. Wary of Pakistan's dirty tricks, Indian government immediately issued an advisory not to show the video that has at least 17 cuts.

Perhaps, aware that Pakistan would try to make a 'tamasha' (ruckus) of the handing over affair, India had offered to take back the decorated pilot through a special plane. But Pakistan refused, citing practical difficulties that would require loads of documentation. It also did not want the Indian planes to enter its airspace so soon after the air strikes.

Sources said the main motive of Pakistan army was to attract eyeballs to the affair internationally so that it could score some 'brownie points' over India and salvage some of its prestige. The event, Pakistan apparently thought, would also help in de-escalating tensions between the two countries.

But as it appears, the sad affair again exemplified the rift between the Pakistan government and the Pakistan army. The bad behaviour of Pakistan army ended up with Imran Khan losing the advantage he had gained by making the solemn promise in the Pakistan's parliament on Thursday.

MIND GAMES

• Wg Cdr Abhinandan was supposed to enter around the time of the Beating the Retreat ceremony but it was delayed twice by Pak 
   
• The delay, Pak said, was due to several factors that included a petition filed against his release in Lahore HC