Kolkata: Mehboob Elahi was happy that his old prison mate Asif Ali Zardari was coming to India but was disappointed that he would not be able to meet him during his visit yesterday.
Elahi, a former Indian spy, was Zardari's jail mate at the Karachi Central Jail for a few months between 1986-87.
Elahi had decided that if he got to meet Zardari he would request all Indian prisoners of war in Pakistani jails be released.
Elahi had served two decades in several Pakistani prisons from 1977-1996 charged with spying for India.
He was Zardari's prison mate along with several leaders of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in the Karachi Central Jail in 1986-87.
"I had been serving in the same prison along with Zardari and Benazir Bhutto during the military rule in Pakistan under Zia-ul-Haq. We used to meet Zardari on Sundays in the courtyard of the jail," Elahi told IANS.
Seasoned spy
Elahi, a seasoned spy of the late 60s and 70s, had twice crossed over to Pakistan — once via East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and once via the western border. He recollected how he had developed a good rapport with Zardari in prison.
"He [Zardari] used to talk about the political situation in Pakistan, and the misrule and suppression of Zia. He had a strong following inside the jail," he recalled.
According to Elahi, Zardari was "sympathetic" to the plight of Indian prisoners.
"Zardari was quite influential and he was sympathetic to Indian POWs [prisoners of war]. The Indian POWs used to wash the clothes of Pakistani prisoners and do menial chores for them.
"They would also do it for Zardari, but Zardari was sympathetic to them. He would speak to them, buy them soap and sweets," said Elahi.
Initially, Elahi spent nearly 10 years in Pakistan from 1968 to 1977 after spying in various government organisations, including the Pakistani army and police.
The 52-year-old spy said during his stay in Pakistani jails he came across hundreds of Indian POWs and fishermen who are in Pakistan for years.
Elahi, a former Indian spy, was Zardari's jail mate at the Karachi Central Jail for a few months between 1986-87.
Elahi had decided that if he got to meet Zardari he would request all Indian prisoners of war in Pakistani jails be released.
Elahi had served two decades in several Pakistani prisons from 1977-1996 charged with spying for India.
He was Zardari's prison mate along with several leaders of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in the Karachi Central Jail in 1986-87.
"I had been serving in the same prison along with Zardari and Benazir Bhutto during the military rule in Pakistan under Zia-ul-Haq. We used to meet Zardari on Sundays in the courtyard of the jail," Elahi told IANS.
Seasoned spy
Elahi, a seasoned spy of the late 60s and 70s, had twice crossed over to Pakistan — once via East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and once via the western border. He recollected how he had developed a good rapport with Zardari in prison.
"He [Zardari] used to talk about the political situation in Pakistan, and the misrule and suppression of Zia. He had a strong following inside the jail," he recalled.
According to Elahi, Zardari was "sympathetic" to the plight of Indian prisoners.
"Zardari was quite influential and he was sympathetic to Indian POWs [prisoners of war]. The Indian POWs used to wash the clothes of Pakistani prisoners and do menial chores for them.
"They would also do it for Zardari, but Zardari was sympathetic to them. He would speak to them, buy them soap and sweets," said Elahi.
Initially, Elahi spent nearly 10 years in Pakistan from 1968 to 1977 after spying in various government organisations, including the Pakistani army and police.
The 52-year-old spy said during his stay in Pakistani jails he came across hundreds of Indian POWs and fishermen who are in Pakistan for years.
