Mohammed Arshad, 44-year-old milk seller of Kasur, also strayed into India, was picked up by the BSF and jailed on September 4, 1997. Since his release from the Central Jail, Ferozepur, on May 4, 1998, he has been working part-time to make a living. He can be seen loitering around the Police Station, Sadar.

Similar is the story of five other Pakistanis - Hakam Ali, 50-year-old dumb cattle tender, Mahammed Jamil, 19-year-old powerloom worker, Amjad Ali, 20-year-old snake charmer, 65-year-old Sardar Mohammed and 15-year-old MohammedAli. On different occasions and on different days, they all had accidentally entered India and were jailed for varied prison-terms. While six of them have served their terms and are now languishing in Ferozepur, Mohammed Ali, a juvenile, is still lodged in the Borstal Jail at Faridkot. Sardar Mohammed was in jail for about six months. On completion of the term, he was released in April, 1997. Hakem Ali was released in August this year, Mahammed Jamil in April and Amjed Ali in June last. They continue to rot here, awaiting deportation. They live in a room on the premises of the Police Station, Sadar, Ferozepur, at night but during the daytime, keep moving here and there. Considering their plight, policemen and officers treat them kindly and even give money to enable them to make their both ends meet. Hardev Singh, SHO, Police Station Sadar, told ENS that a communication had been received by the SSP's office from the Home Ministry, Delhi, saying that passports of five Pakistanis, except Mohammed Jameel andMohammed Ali, were ready but visas were awaited.

When this reporter met the six Pakistani nationals the other day, they came out with their tales of woes. Most of them belong to the district of Kasur located across Ferozepur. Mohammed Barkazi is a father of five and Mohammed Arshad has seven children. He belongs to the border village of Loke located just across Hussainiwala on this side of the border, He along with his speech-impaired companion Hakam Ali, had strayed into Indian territory while grazing buffaloes. Mohammed Jameel and Mohammed Ali who had come to see the Indo-Pak border, had by mistake stepped into the Indian territory. When asked about their children and families in Pakistan, tears rolled down the cheeks of Hakam Ali. Unable to speak, he looked heavenwards and raised his hands gesturing thanksgiving when told that his passport was ready and that he would now be able to go back to his people. Only visa was awaited. Mohd Arshed, Sardar Mohammed and Mohammed Barqazi smiled with misty eyes whentold that their passports too were ready. They thanked their Indian brothers and officials.

Arshad and Sardar wanted the Indian authorities to remit them the amount recovered from them at the time of their arrest. ``This will enable us to set up a small shop each on return to Pakistan,'' they said ruing the fact that the Pakistani Government had not conceded their request to provide them with huts and cattle to enable them to shift from the Kasur border.