After Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released back to India today, an Islamabad based activist has filed a petition in Pakistan High Court challenging the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.
#TNEXCLUSIVE: Islamabad based activist has filed a petition in Islamabad HC challenging release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. The writ petition hasn’t been admitted yet.
Details by @deepduttajourno in conversation with @Swatij14.
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Reportedly, the writ petition has not been accepted by the Pakistan court yet and the judge is set to hear the plea later today. Abhinandan had landed in POJK while chasing a Pakistan F16 out of Indian territory.
IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman is likely to be brought from Rawalpindi to Lahore and handed over first to the International Committee of Red Cross under rules of the Geneva Convention. Later, the IAF pilot will be brought to the JCP between 12 noon and 2 pm to return home. Wing Commander Varthaman will be debriefed by defence and security officials after his return.
Whether this writ petition affects the release of Abhinandan or not remains to be seen.
After Pakistan sponsored Pulwama terror attack, India carried out airstrikes against Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camps deep inside Pakistan territory. Following the airstrikes, Pakistan tried to attack India’s military installations and was successfully intercepted by the Indian Airforce. However, after India shot down Pakistan’s F16, Pakistan managed to capture Wing Commander Abhinandan who went down with one of India’s MiG21. After a strong stand taken by India where it asserted that it will not let Abhinandan be used as a bargaining chip, Pakistan decided to adhere to Geneva Convention rules and hand Abhinandan back to India. He is expected to land in India today.