New Delhi, December 17: In what can possibly be another step in the direction of normalising relations with India, Pakistan will tomorrow release an Indian national named Hamid Ansari, who has been lodged in Kohat Central jail in Pakistan.

Ansari, a 33-year-old resident of Mumbai, is currently lodged in Kohat Central jail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was sentenced to three years of imprisonment by a military court as he was found under possession of a fake Pakistani identity card. His prison term was announced by the court on December 15, 2015. Pakistan Releases 30 Indian Prisoners Ahead of Independence Day.

Ansari was arrested in the year 2012 as he entered Pakistan illegally from Afghanistan, for meeting a girl he befriended online as he wanted to meet the girl personally, said reports.

Earlier, the court had directed the Pakistan government to prepare for Ansari's deportation and complete the formalities within a month from the date of the order as his  three-year jail term came to an end on December 15. Ansari stood trial for three years from 2012 to 2015 and later served his jail term for three years.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had issued a note verbale to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and had asked them to make the necessary arrangements for the earliest possible release of Indian prisoners who have completed their jail terms.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2018 04:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).