Pakistani woman awaits release in India

She completed her jail term in November 2016 but has gotten stuck in paperwork

LAHORE: Pakistani woman Nasreen Akhtar is waiting for approval of the Indian Interior Ministry for her release from a transit camp in the Indian city of Amritsar.

Akthar’s counsel Nojot Kaur Chhamba is hopeful that she will be released before Eid.  Chhamba told on phone from Amritsar that Nasreen, 56, was convicted for 11 year prison sentence in a case of fake currency and drugs in 2006. She completed her punishment on November 9 2016 and was shifted to a transit camp from the jail.

The Indian lawyer said that she was also fined INR200,000 as well, which has been paid. The Indian agencies including Intelligence Bureau have approved her release and her file is with the interior ministry. Chhamba added that Akthar is being provided medicines for her diabetes and uric acid.



Nasreen Akthar’s mother Sharifan Bibi appealed to the Pakistani government for arrangements of her daughter’s transfer to Lahore.  The Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi is also doing everything possible for her release. Moreover, Ansar Burney has also appealed for her early release. The Pakistani embassy will provide her travel documents as soon as she gets NOC from Indian interior ministry.

Indian agencies had arrested four Pakistani women on charges of drug smuggling.

These included Rashidan Bibi of Gujranwala and her two daughters Fatima and Mumtaz. Rashidan Bibi died in Indian prison while her elder daughter Fatima gave birth to a baby girl, Hina.

The family was released last November and they returned to Pakistan through Wagah border while Nasreen Akhtar is waiting for her release.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2018.