Awaiting freedom: Man stuck in Indian jail

DAHARKI: A resident of Mirpur Mathelo town, Mateen Kolachi, was imprisoned for accidently crossing the border between India and Pakistan 15 years ago and has still not been released by the Indian authorities despite completing his sentence five years ago. Kolachi was 15 years old at the time he was captured by the Indian army while visiting the border area of his home district, Ghotki. He is currently detained at the Bekaneer jail. “We haven’t celebrated Eid since Mateen’s capture. It has turned into a day of mourning for us,” said his relatives. Kolachi’s siblings regularly arrange for the children of the neighborhood to read the Quran as they believe that this will help his return. His parents and relatives hoped that he would be released when the Pakistani authorities released an Indian prisoner, Kashmir Singh, but this did not happen. They have requested human rights organisations to take up the issue with Indian government.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th,  2011.