The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistani media Dawn reported that a Pakistani national was repatriated from India on Tuesday after spending 17 years in prison on spying charges.
Muhammad Shahid Iqbal Bhatti, a resident of Kasur, was
returned to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border, the country’s High Commission
in India said in a post on X.
According to the report, Bhatti was arrested in August 2008
by Indian Punjab police and later sentenced by an Indian court for allegedly
spying for Pakistan. While in custody, authorities also interrogated him over
living in India without proper legal documents.
“Subsequently, Bhatti was sentenced by a court and sent to
jail on charges of spying. He spent nearly 17 years of his life in prison,” a
Pakistani official told Dawn.
After completing his prison term, Pakistani and Indian
authorities coordinated for his repatriation. Bhatti was escorted to the Wagah
border and handed over to Pakistani officials on Tuesday, the report said.
The High Commission expressed its commitment to continue
efforts for the release and repatriation of all Pakistani prisoners held in
Indian jails.
Bhatti’s return follows that of three other Pakistani
prisoners from India in late November 2025, including individuals arrested for
allegedly crossing the border illegally or possessing narcotics.
