The High Court of Islamabad has dismissed a petition seeking to stall the release of Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, paving the way for handing over the IAF pilot to India as per schedule.
One Pakistani citizen had filed a plea in the court today morning requesting that Abhinandan Varthaman should not be handed over to India. The petitioner had contended that Varthaman has committed a crime against the country and he should be put on trial in Pakistan for the same. Hearing the petition, High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that this is a matter of foreign policy which is a domain of the government, and the court will not interfere in that.
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was captured by Pakistani military after the MiG-21 he was flying crashed inside Pakistan controlled Kashmir on Wednesday. He had crossed the LoC while chasing the Pakistani fighter jets that had intruded into India and tried to target Indian military bases with bombs and missiles. He had shot down an F-16 jet before his MiG-21 was taken down by ground forces in Pakistan.
Yesterday, Pakistan PM Imran Khan had announced that they will be handing over the pilot to India, following massive international pressure on the country to do so according to Geneva Convention. Abhinandan Varthaman is scheduled to enter India through Wagha border later today, after the formalities are completed in Pakistan.
