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It is disinformation, India tells Pakistan

Islamabad: Expressing concern at “disinformation” over issues relating to Pakistani national Khalid Mehmood, who died while in custody, India on Thursday said he was arrested after he had spent over a year in the country without a visa.

Mehmood died of illness at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on February 12 and “no torture was inflicted” on him, said an Indian High Commission statement here.

Pakistan on Wednesday had expressed “deep shock and anger” at the death of Mehmood under “mysterious circumstances.”

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said it was regrettable that India did not inform the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi of the arrest of Mehmood. The Indian High Commission’s statement, however, said “neither country officially notifies the other when its nationals are arrested.” It expressed concern “at the disinformation being spread in various media reports” following the repatriation of Mehmood’s body.

The statement said Mehmood went to India on a four-day cricket visa in April 2005 to watch a game. He then “disappeared in the country” and was arrested by the police in Faridabad on May 17, 2006.

“Sensitive documents were recovered from Mr. Mehmood’s possession, which he was carrying to Delhi to deliver to some persons who were travelling to Pakistan by the Samjhauta Express.” An FIR was filed and a case registered under the Foreigners Act, the Passports Act, the Official Secrets Act and the Indian Penal Code, the statement said.

Mehmood was produced in a Faridabad court and he had been an undertrial prisoner in a Gurgaon jail since May 25, 2006.

It was “strange that Mr. Mehmood’s family also did not bring to the Pakistan government’s attention the fact that [he] had been missing for almost three years and did not return from India in April 2005.” This was confirmed by the Foreign Office spokesman on Wednesday.

“Someone must explain why [Mehmood] disappeared and what the real purpose of his travel was, since he did not return to Pakistan along with the hundreds of other cricket fans,” the statement said.

While in prison, Mehmood developed abdominal distension on February 1, 2008 and was treated at the General Hospital in Gurgaon. On February 11, he was referred to the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi and then to the AIIMS for further treatment.

“Unfortunately, he did not respond to the treatment,” the statement said.

Pakistan however said it was not satisfied with the clarification. Mr. Sadiq said: “The explanation does not fully explain the circumstances of the death of Mehmood. We once again ask Indian authorities to provide a full report on the circumstances of the death.” — PTI

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