August 22, 2003	Friday	Jumadi-us-Sani 23, 1424

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NEW DELHI, Aug 21: India’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered federal authorities to free incarcerated Pakistani nationals who have already served their full term in prison.

The court set Sept 2 as the deadline for New Delhi to pass “appropriate orders,” officials said.

“The Supreme Court directs the release and deportation of those Pakistani prisoners who have served out their sentence in India and are not detained under any orders passed under the Foreigners Act,” the order said.

The order of judges Ruma Pal and P.V. Reddi came on the back of an appeal filed to India’s highest court by 14 Pakistani nationals held in various Indian prisons.

The court said that while some of the prisoners were still serving out their sentences, others had complained that they have completed their terms as far back as 1992.

“As far as those petitioners are concerned who have served out their sentences and are not detained under any law or under any statutory order, they are entitled to be released.”

“They have sought deportation. Their prayer must be granted,” the two-judge bench ordered.—AFP