Pakistanis in Bagram Interior secy told to give families access to ex-detainees

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court on Friday directed the interior secretary to ensure the meeting of released Pakistani citizens from Afghanistan’s Bagram prison with their families. Justice Khalid Mahmood issued the order after the counsel for Justice Project Pakistan and the families of the released detainees complained about non-implementation of the court’s previous order.

JPP counsel Barrister Sarah Belal said despite court orders all detainees released from Bagram were not allowed access to their families and lawyers. She said only the former Bagram detainees held in Sahiwal jail and Quetta Central Jail were allowed to meet their families and lawyers. Seven released citizens being held under the authority of FATA Secretariat were yet to be allowed such a reunion. Justice Khan adjourned the hearing until June 19 and directed the interior secretary to coordinate with FATA Secretariat and facilitate a meeting between the former detainees and their families and lawyers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2014.