April 04, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429

HYDERABAD, April 3: Family members of a 70-year-old man picked up by Indian intelligence agencies on his arrival in Delhi have urged the government of Pakistan to help secure his release from India’s Tihar prisons.

Fazal Mehmood, residents of Mirza Para Tando Thoso Paretabad, has appealed to the president, prime minister and foreign minister and all human rights organisations to help secure release of his father, Faiz Mohammad, imprisoned in the Aged Cell No.3 of Tihar prisons in Delhi.

Addressing a news conference at the press club here on Thursday, Fazal said that his 70-year old paralyzed father had left for India with other people by Samjhota Express via Lahore on January 26, 2007, to meet his relatives.

He said the train reached the Old Delhi railway station at about 6am and the passengers disembarked onto the platform No18.

He said while his father’s companions were collecting the luggage, Faiz Mohammad seated himself on a nearby bench for some rest.

He said when his companions returned after some time, he was not there.

He said they search for him on platforms and also made inquiries from the security but there was no trace of him.

He said a complaint was also filed with the local police and the group conveyed the information to the relatives of his father who also tried to locate him but in vain. He said he himself went to India and met authorities but all in vain. He said he also met the Pakistani High Commissioner in Delhi and provided him with all the necessary documents but nothing happened.

He said that he had now learnt that Indian intelligence agencies had picked up his father from the railway station and he was languishing in Tahar jail’s Aged Cell No.3 in Delhi.

He said on the one hand the Pakistani government had released Indian ‘spies’ and sent them home with honour while the Pakistanis who visit India were being meted out such treatment.

He appealed to the president, prime minister and foreign minister, and all human rights organisations to secure the release of his father and to take notice of the inhuman treatment being meted out to Pakistani prisoners languishing in Indian jails.

His old mother Zatoon Bibi, wife of Faiz Mohammad, was also present at the press conference.