The Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Friday informed the Lahore High Court that 11 Pakistanis are scheduled to be released from Bagram Prison next month. A law officer representing the ministry submitted its reply to the court. He said the prisoners will be released by the end of May.
Barrister Sarah Belal pointed to the lack of details regarding the 11 prisoners scheduled to be released. Justice Khalid Mehmood Khan then directed the ministry to ascertain the identities of the Pakistanis due to be released and to submit a report in 15 days. Belal then said that the last time Pakistani prisoners were released from Bagram Prison, their families and lawyers, even the court were not informed of it. She said they were held incommunicado till the court demanded that their whereabouts be disclosed. Justice Khan then directed the ministry to inform the court as soon as the prisoners were repatriated.
The Justice Project Pakistan, petitioner, has sought directions for the release and return of 25 Pakistanis detained at the Bagram Prison by the US. It says these citizens have been detained at the prison without charge or trial since 2003. It alleges that the prisoners were abducted from Pakistan and moved to the infamous US prison in Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2014.