Pakistan refuses to accept custody of two minors at the border with Attari

The Pakistani authorities in Attari have denied taking custody of the two young Pakistani boys who had wandered into the Tarn Taran region on August 31, 2022, in the absence of any directives from the Ministry of External Affairs of Pakistan about their return. For the last about 19 months, both have been held captive at the Faridkot Observation Home.

Both were freed from the observation home here on Thursday and sent to the Attari border for their return to their own countries, thanks to the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Secretary of the Chief Judicial Magistrate of the District Legal Services Authority, Faridkot, joined them. However, the Pakistani authorities refused to receive the boys since their ministry had not issued any directives in this respect.

The External Affairs Ministry in India has been contacted by Faridkot District and Sessions Judge Navjot Kaur to discuss the situation with their colleagues in Pakistan, even though the boys have been returned to the observation home.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court became involved in the matter after Justice NS Sekhawat’s January inspection visit to the Faridkot Sessions Division.

When the judge visited the Faridkot observation home, where juvenile offenders who have been found not guilty or are awaiting trial are kept, he discovered that two Pakistani boys were still living there despite having been ruled not guilty on April 18, 2023, by the Juvenile Justice Board.

However, the Sessions Judge said that due to the protracted process involving the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Directorate of District Social Security and Welfare Department, the boys could not be returned to their native Pakistan.

According to Raj Kumar, the superintendent of the observation home, the youngsters will need to remain there for a little longer while the Pakistani authorities’ approval is still pending.