NGO steps in to free Pakistani SRK fan

Sparc seeks intervention of Indian high commissioner in Islamabad to release teenager, a diehard Shah Rukh Khan fan, who crossed border to make it big in Bollywood.

A Pakistani NGO has approached the Indian high commissioner here, seeking the release of a teenager — a diehard fan of Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) — who crossed over in pursuit of a career in Bollywood but landed up in an observation home in Faridkot, Punjab.

In a letter to Satyabrata Pal, Rafiq Khan, national manager of Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc), says Nasir Sultan, 15, was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) for illegal infiltration, after which Ferozepur Police booked him under the Passport Act of 1920.

He says the “innocent” Nasir left home on August 16, 2008, for school but did not return home.

“Sick with worry, his parents started a search for him. Nasir is a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan and always wanted to meet him,” his father said in an interview with Sparc.

He added that “it is quite likely that the boy may have crossed over to show his love for the great Indian idol, since we would have never allowed him to go to India”.

Two months later, on October 15, 2008, Nasir told his parents over phone from Faridkot district court that he was in a jail for children. He said he crossed over to the Indian side and was arrested by the BSF.

Khan says Nasir’s parents are worried and would like to see their son back home as soon as possible.

“At the same time, they are aware of the complications because of the relations between the two countries. Nasir’s father Zareen Khan works at a petrol pump in Chitral. Obviously, with limited resources, it will be difficult for this man to pursue his son’s freedom effectively without the help of the state machinery. Therefore, Sparc has taken up the case.”

The letter further states that the young man’s life and future are at stake.

“Therefore,” it adds, “We would request you to take up the case of Nasir with your government at the earliest and shorten his confinement in India. His case requires sympathy and compassion on the part of both the states and we hope and pray sincerely that Nasir will be with his parents in Dir Upper very soon.”