MINGORA, Nov 15: Despite a lapse of one year since the ouster of the Taliban regime, a number of Pakistanis are still languishing in different jails of Afghanistan.

Majority of them are reportedly hailed from Malakand division, especially from Dir, Swat and Malakand agency. Some 1,000 people had left for Afghanistan in a bid to support the Taliban government against the United States last year in this month.

After the fall of the Taliban government majority of them had been arrested. Some two or three per cent people have so far returned, and the rest of them have either been imprisoned or tortured to death.

These people only wished to fight against the Americans, but their hopes could not be materialized. Those who returned here have revealed the ordeals of the imprisoned people and the torture they faced. It was reported that at least 600 persons are still in Afghan prisons, but their fate seems to be bleak.

The relatives of these persons have made great efforts to get them released at all costs, but failed in their efforts.

The leaders of different political parties, especially the religion-political parties have also paid visits to Kabul and other cities of the country to convince the Afghan leaders, but the efforts have so far proved fruitless.

In the prevailing situation the relatives of these imprisoned persons are in shock. Many of them had fixed dates of their wedding ceremonies or engagements. The mothers, wives and sisters are still expecting their return.

They wonder as to whom should they blame for the tragedy. The people were led by the leaders of the disbanded Tehrik Nefaz-i-Shariah Muhammadi, but its Amir Maulana Sufi Mohammad himself has been jailed in D.I Khan.

The rest of his followers have gone underground and rarely hold a corner off the record meeting. The people have now attached expectations with the government. They want that government must play its role to get them released.