KARACHI, May 11: The Sindh High Court ordered on Thursday immediate release of a Zimbabwean national kept in custody after his acquittal in one case and bail in another.

A petition was moved by Abvious Novimbi alias Tiger saying that he was involved in two narcotics cases. The special anti-narcotics court acquitted him one case and granted bail in the other. However, he was still confined, because of which he could not return home for a short visit. A bench, comprising Chief Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed and Justice Mrs Qaiser Iqbal, directed the home secretary to appear and answer the allegation.

A deputy secretary appeared on Thursday but the bench pointed out that it had summoned the secretary. Additional home secretary Rashid Alam responded subsequently and told the bench that the Zimbabwean national was held under Section 14-C of the Foreigners Act due to a misunderstanding. The bench told him that a foreigner could be held under the provision only if he had been convicted in a case. The petitioner had not been convicted.

Strongly disapproving practices that impinged on the liberty of individuals, the bench ordered immediate release of the petitioner and asked the authorities to exercise due caution while applying confinement provisions.