New Delhi, Apr 23: The Supreme Court today directed the Jammu and Kashmir government to furnish within a week details of number of Pakistan nationals detained in various jails in the state on a petition filed by three Pakistanis seeking release from the jail there. The direction was given by a bench comprising Justice M B Shah and Justice Arun Kumar while hearing three habeas corpus petitions filed by Bisarat Ali Rajput, Abdul Khaliq and M Salahuddin saying that they have been detained "arbitrarily" for the last nine years.

Jammu and Kashmir government counsel Anees Suhrawardy stated these three persons were arrested while crossing the LoC in 1994-95 and were charged under various provisions of Tada and Jammu and Kashmir public safety act.

He said that the Union Government had approached the Pakistan government to take them back but the neighbouring country refused to do so.

The state government counsel said they have to be detained till the case against them is decided by a competent court.

However, the apex court allowed the counsel for the petitioners to meet and interview the three Pakistan nationals in the jail in Jammu and Kashmir.

Bureau Report