Fazilka farmer still in Pak jail despite court’s repatriation order

The family members of farmer Amritpal Singh, who inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan in June this year, have been desperately waiting for a clearance from the Pakistan government to repatriate him to India.After the completion of his sentence, Amritpal has been lodged in the Central Jail, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore, as internee for three months.

Amritpal Singh (23) of Khaire Ke Uttar village had gone to till his fields across the barbed wire fencing, but he inadvertently crossed over to Pakistan on June 21 this year. He was reportedly apprehended by Pakistan Rangers.

Amritpal was booked under Section 4 of the Pakistan (Control of Entry) Act and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act at the Kanganpur police station in Kasur district. He was sentenced to one-month jail besides the imposition of a fine of Rs 50,000 each in both cases by the court of Judicial Magistrate, Chunian, Kasur district.

The court also directed the Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan, to deport Amrtipal after the completion of his sentence.

Amritpal’s father Jagraj Singh said that after the completion of his sentence, little efforts were made by the authorities concerned to hand over Amritpal to the Indian authorities.

He said they had filed a petition in the Lahore High Court against Secretary Interior Government, Pakistan, Inspector General (Prisons), Lahore, and Superintendent Central Jail, Kot Lakhpal, Lahore.

It has been mentioned in the petition that after the completion of sentence on September 25, 2025, instead of repatriating Amritpal Singh, the Government of Punjab, Home Department, Lahore, issued orders directing the authorities concerned to shift him from Kasur jail to Kot Lakhpat Central Jail for three months (September 26 to December 26) at internee.

The Superintendent, Central Jail, Lahore, in his reply to the court, said that he would be repatriated to India on the issuance of deportation orders by the Ministry of Interiors, Pakistan.

Jagraj said if Amritpal was not handed over to India soon, he would suffer an irreparable loss and mental trauma caused due to illegal confinement of his son.