US national held in Peshawar released on bail

Judge orders DeHaven not to leave the area without informing police until his case is concluded.

PESHAWAR: Aaron Mark DeHaven, a US citizen said to have been working for a private security company and detained after he outstayed his Pakistani visa, was released on bail Tuesday, jail officials said.

"We have released US national Aaron Mark DeHaven after receiving the court orders," deputy superintendent of the local jail, Iftikhar Ahmed, told AFP.

DeHaven was arrested last month from a residential area in Peshawar.

His bail application was accepted by additional district and sessions judge Altaf-ur-Rehman on Monday.

He was ordered to submit a surety bond of two million rupees ($23,500).

"The bail amount was paid and DeHaven was released today," his lawyer Sardar Mohammad Raza said.

The judge has ordered DeHaven not to leave the area without informing police until his case is concluded.

Police say DeHaven's Pakistani visa had expired in October, and that he was working for security contractor Catalyst Services, providing security and accommodation to foreigners working on development projects in the region.