Pak boy set free

A court of the Juvenile Justice Board, on Friday, ordered the release of a 12-year-old boy from Pakistan who had illegally crossed over into India last month after being rebuked by his father, reports Aseem Bassi.

A court of the Juvenile Justice Board, on Friday, ordered the release of a 12-year-old boy from Pakistan who had illegally crossed over into India last month after being rebuked by his father.

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However, Ateeque can go back to his country only after the Indian authorities receive his repatriation documents from Pakistan or the Pakistani embassy in New Delhi.

The detention of the child has generated widespread sympathy in Pakistan.

This was evident from Pakistan Human Rights Organisation chairperson Asma Jahangir's presence in the Amritsar juvenile court on Friday.

Thanking all those who made efforts to secure his release, Ateeque said, “I am very happy now. I am dying to go home and meet my family members.”

Ateeque, who was booked under the Foreigners Act and Passport Act, was lodged in the Juvenile Home since his arrest.

Welcoming the decision, Asma Jahangir said, “We will now try to arrange the required documents so that the child can be reunited with his family at the earliest.” She said both the nations should take a liberal view of such cases.