44 Afghans released from Karachi jail

QUETTA (PAN‘s port city of Karachi, an official said on Saturday.

Most of them from Nangarhar, Laghman and Herat provinces, the individuals were jailed some months ago, local journalist Zafar Karimi told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The Afghans were released as a result of efforts by their relatives, who stayed for months in the city to secure their release, Karimi said.

Shah Gul, a prisoner from Jalalabad, said they were going to Iran for work when Pakistani police arrested them.

Afghan Consul General in Karachi, Abdul Ahad Khaliqyar, said the 44 people were arrested in different areas of the city. He claimed they were freed after talks between Afghan and Pakistani officials.

The men would be handed over to Afghan officials at the Chaman border crossing, he said.

Among the released people, 10 were teenagers.

mrh/ma