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Pakistan releases India prisoner Surjeet Singh India 'spy' Surjeet Singh returns from Pakistan jail
(about 2 hours later)
Pakistan has freed an Indian man who had been imprisoned for over 30 years. An Indian man has returned to his country after spending more than 30 years in jail in Pakistan for spying.
Surjeet Singh, 69, was released from a prison in Lahore city and is on his way to India, his lawyer Awais Sheikh said. Surjeet Singh, 69, was greeted at the Wagah border crossing by his son and other family members and well-wishers.
Mr Singh's release came days after Pakistan said another Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh - on death row for more than 21 years - would be released. Wearing marigold garlands around his neck, Mr Singh admitted to reporters: "I had gone there for spying."
But hours later, Islamabad clarified that it was in fact freeing Surjeet Singh who had been imprisoned on charges of espionage. There was confusion this week when Pakistan said another Indian, Sarabjit Singh, would be freed, but later clarified it was to be Surjeet Singh.
TV pictures showed a police van carrying Mr Singh leaving the Kot Lakhpat prison on the way to the Wagah land border crossing. Sarabjit Singh has been on death row for more than 21 years for spying and bombings he denies.
"During my imprisonment I often remembered my family and children. Today I am very happy. I will go to the Golden Temple [the Sikh shrine in Indian Punjab] to pray and hug my children," he told reporters. 'Really happy'
Earlier this week, Pakistan's law minister had conveyed to the government that Mr Singh had completed his life term and ought to be released and sent back to India TV pictures showed Mr Singh crossing the Wagah border, accompanied by Border Security Force personnel and police.
Family members greeted him by putting several marigold garlands around his neck and offered him sweets.
"I am free after 30 years. I've met my family, I'm really happy," he told reporters.
Mr Singh said he had been treated well in jail.
He said he met his fellow prisoner, Sarabjit Singh, regularly in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison and that he had been well treated too.
Surjeet Singh said he would do everything possible to get his fellow prisoner freed. He said "media hype" had spoiled Sarabjit Singh's case.
Surjeet Singh now plans to go to the Golden Temple, Sikhdom's holiest place, "to pray and hug my children".
Earlier this week, Pakistan's law minister conveyed to the government that Surjeet Singh had completed his life term and ought to be released and sent back to India.
That followed reports, which turned out to be wrong, that Pakistan was about to free Sarabjit Singh.
Pakistan and India frequently arrest each other's citizens, often accusing them of being spies after they have strayed across the land or maritime border.Pakistan and India frequently arrest each other's citizens, often accusing them of being spies after they have strayed across the land or maritime border.
India welcomed Pakistan's decision to release Surjeet Singh and made a fresh appeal for the release of death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh. In recent years, several Indians returning from Pakistani jails have admitted to spying.
Sarabjit Singh, who is accused of spying and carrying out bomb attacks in Pakistan, has always denied the charges against him.