Jailed Indian to return to home from Pakistan on July 7

Lahore, July 6 : Ram Parkash, the 51-year-old Indian prisoner who has been lodged in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since 1998, is now expected to return to India on July 7.

Official sources here and in New Delhi confirmed that Parkash is a free man since June 30, but because his travel documents were still being prepared, there was a delay in his return home.

A resident of Kucha Talab village near Bishnah in Jammu, Ram Parkash was arrested in 1997 and jailed in Pakistan on spying charges.

Immediately after his release on June 30, Parkash was brought to the Wagah border check post on July 1 for handing over to the Indian authorities at Attari, but the latter refused to take custody of him, as he was not carrying the required travel documents.

Consequently, he was sent back to Kot Lakhpat jail. The Immigration and BSF authorities at Attari Border said they have to follow certain rules and regulations besides adhering to proper protocol in such sensitive international matters, and therefore, had no authority to accept an Indian prisoner from Pakistan soil without proper travel documents.

ANI