Pakistanis released from US prison

Islamabad, Oct 17 (UNI) Eight Pakistanis were released from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay and the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan and flown here on a special plane yesterday.

They were handed over to Pakistani law enforcement agencies. Two of them were freed from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, while six were freed from the Bagram Airbase. Nineteen more Pakistanis are still under US custody, The Daily Times reported.

National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC) Chief Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema said the released prisoners were in good health, adding that they will undergo complete medical checkups and debriefing, which could take over ten days.

He said only five more Pakistanis were still in the US prison at Guantanamo Bay and 14 at the Bagram Airbase, adding that the government was trying to release them.

Most of the Pakistanis had fought alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan before their government was toppled by a US-led international military coalition.

Mr Cheema said Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao had played an important role in releasing the eight men. The government had sent a team to Bagram and Guantanamo Bay that successfully negotiated with the US officials for the release of Pakistani inmates.

He said the men had been in US custody after the 9/11 incidents, adding that they were set free after no proof of involvement in any terrorist activity was found against them.

UNI XC SI BD1908