February 1, 2002	Friday	Ziqa’ad 17, 1422

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PESHAWAR, Jan 31: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has stepped up efforts for the release of Pakistani volunteers, living in detention in various private prisons in northern Afghanistan.

HRCP Chairman Afrasiab Khattak, during his visit to Kabul, held meetings with the chairman interim government Hamid Karzai, finance minister, Hadiat Amin Arsalan, interior minister, Younus Qanooni and other senior officials and discussed the issue of Pakistani prisoners, captured by the Northern Alliance forces in Mazar-i-Sharif and other parts of the country.

Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly from tribal areas and Malakand division, went to Afghanistan to back the Taliban militia against the US ground forces.

Afrasiab Khattak, who returned from Kabul the other day, told Dawn here on Wednesday that the interim government assured him full support for the release of the detained Pakistanis.

“The interim government head, Hamid Karzai, and his interior minister, Younus Qanoni, were very cooperative,” he said, adding they were very optimistic about the release of Pakistani nationals.

He said that during his stay in Kabul the delegation also held meetings with the representatives of various NGOs, lawyers and teachers and sought their support. He said that the commission would continue to follow up the case of the detained Pakistanis.