Abhinandan’s Release: Has PM Imran Forgotten Sepoy Maqbool Hussain?

Published February 28, 2019 | 06:15 PM

Sepoy Maqbool Hussain was the brave soldier of Pakistan who got injured and was taken prisoner by the Indian Army during 1965 war.

Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 28th February, 2019) While Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to release detained Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman is being welcomed by several quarters, some people are now forced to question the repeated peace efforts being made by Pakistan.

Pakistan will hand over to India on Friday one of the two Indian pilots arrested by the Pakistani Army following the aerial incident over the disputed Kashmir region, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said while addressing a joint parliamentary session on Thursday.

"We have decided to release the captured Indian pilot on Friday, as a peace gesture," he said.

Despite Prime Minister Imran Khan’s repeated offers for peace and dialogue, India continues with its war mongering as Indian media and Indian people are terming it as their 'diplomatic victory', asserting that Pakistan took the step under ‘pressure’ and ‘fear’ of India.

This reaction from India has forced Pakistanis to question if the decision to release Abhinandan should be welcomed as it reminds them of Pakistani Sepoy Maqbool Hussain who had languished in Indian jails for 40 years.

India never showed any kind treatment to him under the Geneva Convention or international law then why is Pakistan so lenient to the Indian prisoner?

Sepoy Maqbool Hussain was the brave soldier of Pakistan who got injured and was taken prisoner by the Indian Army during 1965 war.

Later, after spending 40 tough years in Indian jails, he was released in 2005. He was recipient of Sitara Jurrat.

During his imprisonment, Maqbool Hussain is said to be subjected to awful abuses. Indians used to torture him to speak 'Bharat mata ki jay' while he use to write Pakistan Zindabad with his blood on walls of his cell.

Although he passed away on Aug 28, 2018, the treatment given to him in Indian jail is still fresh in the minds of Pakistani people.