PESHAWAR, July 12: At least 13 foreigners detained under the Foreign Act in Central Prison Peshawar have been provided with a travelling package by a welfare organisation to facilitate their early deportation to their respective countries.

The foreign nationals were arrested by the law enforcement agencies from different parts of the country. Earlier, 18 foreign nationals detained in Peshawar managed their release through the welfare organisations which bore their travelling costs.

Farhad, a resident of Ghaza Strip, Palestine, told Dawn that he was taken into custody on his return from Afghanistan. “I have visited most parts of the war-torn country. After the fall of Taliban, I slipped into Pakistan,” he added.

He is not looking well as he had undergone an extensive interrogation. He is happy over his scheduled release next week. Ali Reza, an Iranian national, is also waiting for his release.

Essa Abdul Latif, a Moroccan national, and Saad from Iraq, both were angry over the treatment meted out to them during their stay in various prisons. They were not provided with proper food.

Javed Ibrahim Piracha, a former MNA from Kohat, told Dawn that he and his colleagues were collecting donations from the people to meet the travelling expenditures of these Arabs, Africans and Europeans detained in various prisons of the country.

Mr Piracha claimed that more than 1,800 Europeans, Africans and Arabs, who had come to Afghanistan during Taliban government, had been languishing in various prisons in the tribal belt since the US occupation of Afghanistan.

He also claimed that more than 2,000 families of Mujahideen were waiting for their martyrdom in these parts as they had refused to return to their native countries.

“We will arrange tickets for the 13 detenus in the Peshawar jail,” he added.

“Hundreds of Nigerians, Sudanese, Yemenis, Saudis, Kuwaitis and Americans landed in Afghanistan during jihad against the Russian occupation forces. These very Mujahideen sided with the Taliban militia. But now they are being hunted by US forces on the pretext of Al Qaeda,” he added.

Mr Piracha denied that the detained foreign nationals, who were arrested during the last two years from Fata and other parts of the province, were involved in terrorist activities.