Lahore, May 31: A judicial review board today ordered the release of a Pakistani doctor and his brother jailed in December on charges of having links with al-Qaeda, court officials said. The board made up of three judges declined a Punjab provincial government request to extend the detention of Doctor Ahmed Javed Khawaja and Ahmad Naveed for another month.

The two spent nearly 21 weeks in detention after their arrest in December in a joint police and US FBI raid at their residence in Lahore.

"We are very happy to be free," said Khawaja as he walked out of the Lahore High Court building with his brother after an in-camera hearing by the judges.

Earlier this week, an anti-terrorism court here acquitted the brothers of charges of illegal possession of two firearms; illegal possession of four "illicit" passports allegedly belonging to al-Qaeda figures; firing on police; and indiscriminate firing.

The khawajas were accused by the federal interior ministry of "anti-state activities" by harbouring four al-Qaeda members including Abu Yassir al-Jazeeri, identified as "responsible for the business of al-Qaeda," Egyptians Assadullah and Sheikh said al-Misri, and Abu Faraj, listed as North African.
Bureau Report