Pakistani boy moves closer to home

Munir, the Pakistani boy who was arrested after he strayed into Indian territory in June, on Monday moved a step further towards his home.

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Pakistan high commission officials visited Munir at the Rajasthan House in New Delhi to complete the paperwork necessary to issue him a temporary passport to facilitate his journey to Lahore on Tuesday.

Indian external affairs ministry officials too visited the 13-year-old boy to issue him an exit permit, granting permission to leave India.

Earlier, Munir, who looked unwell, underwent a series of medical tests at the Rajasthan House.

"He was a bit tired after the long journey from Bikaner yesterday. He is comfortable now and can undertake the journey to Lahore," Dr Ramesh Khandelwal said.

The Pakistani boy had strayed across the border into Rajasthan on June 26. He was released from a juvenile home in Bikaner as a special gesture from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Friday.

His father Bilal Mohammad sells kulfi in Lahore.

The boy's plight came to light after the media attention received by two-year-old Pakistani girl Noor Fatima, who underwent a heart surgery in Bangalore last month.