ISLAMABAD, June 22: Pakistan has decided to free 17 nationals who have been detained since their repatriation from the US Guantanamo Bay detention centre nearly one year ago, officials said on Wednesday.

After their release next week the government also intends to free some 210 prisoners from jails in Punjab who were returned from Afghanistan in batches last year, the officials said.

“We have decided to release all these prisoners after securing surety bonds on good behaviour from their families,” Tahir Ashrafi, the provincial government’s adviser on religious affairs, told AFP.

“Surety bonds are being furnished to make sure that these people would not be involved in any violence in the country,” Mr Ashrafi said.