Islamabad (Web Desk): Saifullah Paracha, a Pakistani national who was detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre for the last 18 years, had been released and reached Pakistan, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
“We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad has finally reunited with his family,” read a handout issued by the ministry.
“Mr. Paracha, who was detained in Guantanamo Bay US, has been released & reached Pakistan on Saturday,” Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a tweet and added, “The Foreign Ministry completed an extensive inter-agency process to facilitate repatriation of Mr. Paracha.” “We are glad that a citizen detained abroad is reunited with his family,” he maintained.
The 75-year-old was the oldest prisoner at Guantanamo Bay and was held on suspicion of ties to Al Qaeda but never charged with a crime. His release was approved in May last year after more than 16 years in custody at the US base in Cuba.