The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Jammu and Kashmir Government to furnish within a week details about three Pakistan nationals detained in various jails in the state on a petition filed by them seeking release.

The direction to specifically give the names of the jails where these Pakistan nationals are lodged was given by a bench comprising Justice M B Shah and Justice Arun Kumar, while hearing three separate habeas corpus petitions filed by Bisarat Ali Rajput, Abdul Khaliq and M Salahuddin. The petitions stated that the Pakistani nationals 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 Line of Control in 1994-95 and were charged under various provisions of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (prevention) Act and Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act.

He said 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 jails in Jammu and Kashmir.