Pakistan national yet to reach home after 12-year ordeal

Kanpur, Jun 23: For Pakistani national Mohammad Idris, it has been a 12-year ordeal since he came here to see his ailing father in 1999 and was arrested for overstaying the visa tenure of 15 days.

Having fought a 10-year legal battle to clear his name the 45-year-old was released in 2009, with just a fine of Rs 500 by a local court.

After the acquittal, officials took him to the border for repartition however, the Pakistani counterparts did not allow him saying his passport was no more valid and he should be issued a new one.

Now he is waiting for an ''Emergency Travel Certificate'' to be issued by the Delhi based Pakistan High Commission to go back.

Meanwhile, after exhausting all his resources due to the decade-old legal fight, he is now living in penury and is without a roof.

Moved by his plight the district administration has written to government to address his condition, an official said.

The district administration has also written a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government requesting for financial assistance to meet Idris' expenses till the process of sending him back is finalised, he said.

PTI