Story Highlights
- Hamid Ansari illegally entered Pakistan in 2012, reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online
- He was arrested as an Indian spy by Pakistani authorities and was sentenced jail
- His jail term came to an end on Decembet 15, 2018.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Monday confirmed that Indian spy Hamid Nehal Ansari would be repatriated to India upon completion of his sentence.
Ansari, who had illegally entered the country and was involved in anti-state crimes and forging of documents, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal wrote on Twitter.
#HamidNehalAnsari, an Indian spy who had illegally entered Pakistan and was involved in anti-state crimes and forging documents, is being released upon completion of his sentence and is being repatriated to India.
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) December 17, 2018
The 33-year-old Mumbai resident had filed a petition with the Peshawar High Court in November 2017 requesting that he must not be treated as a spy as he was not involved in “anti-state activities”.
He spent three years in Peshawar jail. The petition was filed by senior lawyer Qazi Muhammad Anwar and sought remission in his sentence.
The petition argued that Ansari was not involved in any anti-state activities in Pakistan, but he had entered the country without proper documents. Therefore, he had the right of remission in the sentence after spending a long time in jail.
First smile in six years. The parents of Hamid Nihal Ansari have just learnt that their son will be released by Pakistan tomorrow. They’re headed to Amritsar to receive him. He had illegally crossed into Pakistan through Afghanistan in 2012 to chase his online love. pic.twitter.com/e4crAeWtuD
— Shivam Vij (@DilliDurAst) December 17, 2018
It is being expected that Ansari will be released from jail tomorrow (Tuesday) and then will be taken to the Wagah-Attari Border crossing, where he will be handed to Indian authorities.
On the other hand, Ansari’s parents were left overjoyed once they heard the news about their son’s release, reports Indian media.
