Journeys to democracy

Great news – Ateeq, the 13-year old boy imprisoned at Hoshiarpur Juvenile Prison in India, reached home late last night “amidst mayhem in Lahore” as advocate Asad Jamal put it, “and jubilation among family members and mohalladars”.

See initial report inAman ki Asha page Feb 24 – written prior to Asma Jahangir and I.A. Rehman going to Amritsar to plead his case on Feb 26.

See report in The News, Saturday, March 13, 2010: Boy returns home after two months in Indian jail …

By Arshad Dogar

LAHORE: A 13-year-old runaway of Shahdara returned home Friday after spending over two months imprisonment in a Hushiarpur jail in India, as he had slipped into Samjhota Express on January 10 after his father admonished him for flying kites.

The parents, brothers and sisters of the fugitive boy and representatives of the civil society reached Wagha border to receive the boy. Warm welcome with the garlands of roses and touchy feelings was given to the youth. The boy with smiling face and his parents with tears in eyes embraced each other. The parents also distributed sweets to the locals and dear ones on Ateeq’s return.

The role of Aman Ki Asha, HRCP Chairperson Asma Jhangir and a Lahore-based lawyer Asad Jamal is laudable who had taken practical steps for release of the young boy. On January 10, the fugitive boy’s father admonished him for flying kites and he reached Atari Railway Station through Samjhota Express inadvertently on January 11, 2010.

Ateeq, son of Malik Iftikhar, was a resident of House No 46-LDA, Ittehad Street, Gali No 01, Farrukhabad, main Bara Dari Road, Shahdara, Lahore. Talking to this correspondent, Iftikhar said the Pakistani human right activists and a Lahore-based lawyer Asad Jamal have played a vital role in bringing back his son. He said that he was confident enough that his missing child would surely return, as he had no bad habit or activity.

Iftikhar had two sons and an 11-year-old daughter, Ateeq, 13, and a 4-year-old son. Ateeq was a student of Class-7 at Government High School, Shahdara. Ateeq also used to help his old father in managing a small general store set up at their home, as his father could not carry load.

The Indian Court (Juvenile Justice Board) ordered release of Ateeq on February 26. Asma Jahangir took the cause and personally appeared before the juvenile court in Amritsar. The juvenile court found the boy innocent and ordered to release him immediately. After completion of formal documents, the boy was sent back to Pakistan on Friday. Interestingly, the release orders of the runaway were also issued Friday and he returned home also on the day of Friday.

Filed under: Pakistan-India | Tagged: ateeq, pakistani prisoner indian jail |