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A Pakistani national, Mohammad Fahad, staged a week-long hunger strike at the foreigners’ detention center in Nelamangala, Bengaluru, as he continues to await deportation over a year after his release.
Fahad, who spent 17 years in prison before being acquitted, began his protest on December 4, demanding that authorities expedite his return to Pakistan.
Despite a court order, his repatriation has been stalled due to bureaucratic delays. The report highlighted that officials from the Pakistan High Commission confirmed his citizenship clearance as early as 2011 and stated they are coordinating with India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). However, an FRRO official maintained that deportation procedures are ongoing.
Fahad’s hunger strike, which lasted until December 9, ended after authorities intervened due to concerns over his deteriorating health. He is now held in isolation, with limited access to a mobile phone and no visitors allowed.
Fahad’s Story
Mohammad Fahad’s ordeal began in 2006 when he traveled from Pakistan to India to reconnect with his paternal relatives in Kasaragod, Kerala. Fahad’s father, originally from India, had moved to Pakistan in the 1970s and married a Pakistani woman. During Fahad’s visit, he decided to stay back after falling in love with a local woman.
However, in 2007, his stay turned contentious when he was arrested in Mysuru for forging identity documents in an attempt to claim Indian citizenship. This incident led to his prolonged legal and personal struggles, which continue to this day.
