LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the federal interior ministry to respond on June 5 over a petition relating to Pakistani citizens who were reportedly released following their detention in Afghanistan’s Bagram prison, DawnNews reported.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) for the release of Pakistani citizens detained at the Afghan jail.

The petition had contended that at least 25 Pakistani citizens had been detained at Bagram jail without any charge or trial since 2003. It also alleged that they were abducted from Pakistan and removed to the US prison in Afghanistan.

During today's hearing of the petition, the court said authorities needed to inform on the released men's whereabouts.

It also asked why the government was reluctant to provide more information on the prisoners, adding that the authorities' failure to address the court’s questions meant that something may not be right.

Subsequently, the court diected the interior ministry to address its questions on the matter on June 5.

On May 16, Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had acknowledged that 10 Pakistanis had been released from the prison in Afghanistan and were being ‘processed’ by local authorities.

Those released include Awal Noor, Bismillah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Paizoo Khan, Farman Shah, Abdul Sattar, Shah Khalid, Wajid Rehman, Rehmatullah and Sallah Muhammad (Yunus Rehmatullah).