September 18, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 17, 1429

PESHAWAR, Sept 17: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday directed a prisoners’ relief body to deposit fine on behalf of three former Russian soldiers so that they could be released from prison and deported to their country.

These three prisoners, who had converted to Islam and fought against the Russian forces in Afghanistan, were arrested few years back from South Waziristan by the security agencies and later on they were charged with illegal stay in Pakistan.

These prisoners - Abdur Rasheed, Rustam and Marat - have already completed their prison term and a fine of Rs5,000 each has now been outstanding against them. They were recently shifted from Rawalpindi Adiala prison to the Peshawar central prison.

An FIR was registered against them at Police Station FIA in Rawalpindi on July 17, 2007, under section 14 of the Foreigners Act.

A two - member bench comprising the Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan and Justice Yahya Zahid Gillani adjourned hearing of a writ petition filed by the Chairman of World Prisoners Relief Commission, Jawed Ibrahim Paracha, for the release and deportation of the three prisoners.

The court would resume hearing in the case on Thursday (Sept 18). Mr Paracha said that he had would take care of the traveling arrangements of the prisoners and would provide them air ticket.

The additional advocate general, Ishtiaq Ibrahim, informed the court that a fine of Rs5000 had been outstanding against each of the three prisoners. Mr Paracha made commitment that he would pay the fine on behalf of the prisoners.

The bench directed him to deposit the fine and produce its receipt on Thursday so that the release orders of the prisoners could be issued.

Later in the evening Mr Paracha told Dawn that he had deposited the fine money and would provide the receipts to the high court on Thursday.

He added that it was likely that the court would issue their release and deportation order on Thursday.

He claimed that the three prisoners were high ranking soldiers in the Russian army and had deserted to the Mujahideen. He added that they had converted to Islam and then fought against the Russians.

Mr Paracha claimed that later on they started residing in Makeen area of South Waziristan from where they were arrested few years ago by the security agencies. He added that they were kept in illegal detention for various years and were finally charged for illegal stay in Pakistan.

He claimed that a daughter of Abdur Rasheed, Dr Aalia, had visited Pakistan from Russia to pursue the case of her father.