After Hamid Ansari's Return, India Releases Pakistan National Imran Warsi, Lodged in Bhopal Jail Since 10 Years
Qureshi, now 36, had arrived in India in 2003 after falling in love with a Bhopal-based woman.
Bhopal, December 22: A strikingly similar case to that Hamid Nehal Ansari has come to the fore from Bhopal, where a Pakistani national ended up landing in jail, after crossing the border to meet his love. Imran Warsi Qureshi, however, is now a free man as the Indian authorities have decided to release him after serving a 10-year jail term.
Qureshi, who is now 36-year-old, had fallen in love with a Bhopal-based woman in early 2000s. In 2003, he arrived India on a valid passport and met his love. Unilike Ansari, who was duped in Peshawar, Qureshi ended up marrying the girl in whose pursuit he came to Bhopal. Hamid Ansari Meets Sushma Swaraj Day After His Repatriation to India From Pakistan Jail.
The couple resided in Bhopal after marriage, and also gave birth to two children. In 2006, Qureshi's visa expired. Instead of returning back to Pakistan, he continued to reside in Bhopal without legal documents.
Qureshi, while speaking to reporters, claimed that members of his wife's family framed him by complaining to the police that he is working as a Pakistani spy.
Qureshi was subsequently jailed and sentenced to 40 years in prison on espionage charge. His jail-term was later reduced when the espionage charges were dropped, and he was convicted for only residing under a fake identity.
His prison tenure ended on January 19, 2018, and was subsequently shifted from the Bhopal Central Jail to the Guardian Jail in Bhopal, which is considered to be a "safe house" for detained foreign nationals.
In the past month, the formalities to send him back to Pakistan was completed. Qureshi is expected to reach Amritsar tomorrow, from where he would be sent to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border.
On his release, Qureshi told news agency ANI that the security personnel in Bhopal neither subjected him to torture, nor ill-treatment, after learning that he had not entered into India on espionage purpose.
"Police treated me very well, just like a family. I found loving people here the same way there are loving people in Pakistan. I believe good people find good people everywhere," he said.
Qureshi further added that he would be striving to procure a visa for his wife and two children after returning to Pakistan.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 22, 2018 04:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).