Two Pakistani TV journalists, accused of filming activities at a local air base once used by US-led coalition forces using forged identity cards and passports, were on Friday released on bail after three months in detention during which they were allegedly tortured.
Reporter Mujesh Rupeta and cameraman Sanjay Kumar returned home safely after being released from police custody on a Jacobabad Judge's order, Defence lawyer Ashok Kumar told the agency from Jacobabad in southern Sindh province.
"My clients are innocent. The First Information Report is faulty and baseless. My clients are shattered and have been tortured while in custody," Kumar said.
Kumar added that the bail was granted at Rs 25,000 each while the date for the first hearing was set for June 29.
The TV journalists of local channel GEO who were arrested three months ago, are also accused of leaking official secrets and face seven years in prison if found guilty.
Mukesh Rupeta showed the court his legs had been burnt with cigarette butts. Sanjay Kumar said he had received internal injuries, the lawyer said.
The judge in his remand order said Rupeta had been subject to visible torture, Kumar said.
{{/usCountry}}The judge in his remand order said Rupeta had been subject to visible torture, Kumar said.
{{/usCountry}}He alleged that the FIR was "faulty because according to it, the recording was done on March 6, 2006, while the arrests are shown to have been made on June 21, 2006."