PESHAWAR, Feb 10: The NWFP government has released 39 Afghan prisoners, including a women who were involved in ordinary crimes from the Central Prison as a mark of goodwill gesture.

The prisoners were released on Monday in presence of provincial education minister, chief secretary, IG police and IG prisons. They were transported to Afghan Consulate in a vehicle, from where they headed for their homes.

Most of these prisoners live as refugees in different cities of the Frontier province.

Earlier, the government had promised to release 400 prisoners, but according to officials in Afghan Consulate, the rest of 371 would be released soon. Most of the prisoners who were set free, were almost nearing the completion of their sentences, the official added.

The lone female prisoner, Qandi Gula, 50, also put in jail on the same charges, said she had also completed her term in jail.

Afghan Consul General, Haji Abdul Khaliq Farahi told reporters that earlier, the NWFP government had promised to release all the 400 prisoners in one go, but they released only 39. According to him, they were unaware of the crimes, for which these Afghans had been jailed.

He also said that most of them had completed their jail term, and needed to be released on the occasion of Eidul Azha.

Officials in the Afghan Consulate, said that there were about 6,500 Afghan prisoners in different Pakistani jails.

They also informed that the Afghan embassy in Islamabad had constituted a commission a month ago to pay visits to different jails in Pakistan and know the exact number of Afghan inmates and the nature of their crimes, but no outcome was forthcoming so far.

Most of these prisoners had been arrested for lack of possession of documents required for staying in Pakistan.