An Indian woman and her young son were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Attari-Wagah border after serving a prison sentence of more than a year for illegally entering Pakistan.
Wahida Begum and her underage son Faiz Khan, who were both victims of human trafficking, were apprehended while crossing from Afghanistan into Pakistan through the Chaman border, as per PTI reports citing Pakistani authorities.
Wahida, hailing from Nagaon district in Assam, informed authorities that following her husband’s demise in 2022, she aimed to relocate to Canada with her son. Allegedly, she sold her assets and entrusted a significant sum of money to an Indian travel agent who pledged to assist in their migration.
“After the death of my husband in 2022, I decided to take my son to Canada. For this purpose, I sold my property and paid a hefty sum of money to an Indian agent,” she said in her statement to police in Pakistan.
“However, in Afghanistan, he took all of my money and our passports and managed to flee,” she said.
In an endeavor to return to India, Wahida and Faiz crossed into Pakistan, where they were apprehended under the Foreigners Act.
“Later we were provided consular access and the process of verifying our citizenship took several months,” she said. Additionally, Wahida mentioned that her Pakistani lawyer informed her mother in India about their ordeal.
Afterwards, Wahida’s family reached out to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, requesting assistance for their safe return.
Reportedly, officials from the Indian High Commission raised her case with the interior ministry in Islamabad.
Their repatriation was ultimately arranged, and on Wednesday, Wahida and her son were transferred to the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Wagah border.
In addition to them, two other Indian nationals, Shabir Ahmed and Suraj Pal, were also handed over to the BSF on Wednesday.
Ahmed was released from Karachi’s Malir Jail, while Pal was set free from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail after serving their sentences.