By IANS,
New Delhi: Delhi High Court Tuesday issued notice to the Delhi government over a petition seeking deportation filed by a Pakistani national jailed in Tihar for over 17 years.
Justice Mukta Gupta issued notice to the Delhi government seeking its response by Sep 5 on the petition filed by Khalid Mehmood, a Lahore resident, who wants to be deported back to Pakistan.
Mehmood, who was arrested in 1994, was convicted under the provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) by the lower court in 1996 for planning terrorist acts and possession of firearms.
He was given 20 years and life term for the two offences.
According to the petition, Mehmood has undergone actual imprisonment for over 17 years and 20 years with remission, so he deserves to be sympathetically considered for premature release.
Vivek Sood, his lawyer, said: “Categories of convicted prisoners undergoing life sentence are entitled to be considered for premature release only after undergoing imprisonment for 20 years, including remission.”
“At the time when Mehmood was arrested Feb 17, 1994, he was only 18 years of age and was studying in Class XI,” said Sood.