The Malaysian high commission in Pakistan has received no communication from the authorities on a release date for 13 Malaysian students currently being held in Karachi, despite reports that they may be repatriated soon.

"We are still in contact with the Pakistani authorities, but we have not received any information yet on when they might be released or repatriated," said counsellor Ghafar Iskandar when contacted at the mission in Islamabad.

He told malaysiakini that the high commissioner had dispatched an official note last Friday to the Interior Ministry requesting the students' immediate release once investigations are complete.

They were arrested by Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency on Sept 20 on suspicion that they may be involved in militant activities while registered as students in the country.

All the students, who range in age from 16 to 21, were undergraduates at one of two main universities in Karachi - the Abu Bakar Islamic University and University of Islamic Studies.

Fair treatment

Ghafar, who visited the students in Karachi several days into their arrests, said they appeared to have been given fair treatment while in detention.

"They seemed all right and did not make any complaints about their treatment. They were not held in a prison," he said, describing the facility where the students are being held as an immigration detention centre.

The counsellor said the high commission had also appealed for the students to be allowed to continue their studies if no charges are filed against them, but said the final decision lies with the Pakistani authorities.

When contacted, the Pakistan high commission in Kuala Lumpur was unable to furnish additional details on the situation.

News of the students' imminent release was announced yesterday by Inspector-General of Police Norian Mai.

Bernama

quoted him as saying that the Pakistani authorities had interrogated some of the students and were satisfied with their explanations, while others were still being questioned.

He also said that the students would be repatriated once the investigations are completed.

Mother's plea

Meanwhile, one student's mother - who wished to be identified only as Rohaimah - said she has still not received any communication from her 19-year-old son Mohd Radzi Abdul Razak or from Malaysian authorities.

"I am relieved to hear reports that (the Pakistani authorities) will not be charging him with any wrongdoing," she said, adding that the only information that she has received has been through media reports.

She said none of the other parents with whom she is in contact has received any communication from the students.

Rohaimah said their mothers were also anxious for them to be allowed to continue their studies, since most have studied for several years at their respective universities.

"My son has just a few months more to complete his studies. It would be a big loss if he has to leave without completing his studies since he already spent three years there," she explained.

Asked if she was concerned that he might be detained here on being repatriated, Rohaimah said she was unable to anticipate what could happen on her son's return.

"We will co-operate with any investigations. I do not know if they will detain him or not," she said.

Mohd Radzi is among four students whose fathers are being detained in Malaysia under the Internal Security Act, on allegations that they are members of regional militant group Jemaah Islamiah.

His father, Abdul Razak Baharudin, has since filed a habeas corpus application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court together with seven other detainees, seeking to be released.