Freed French journalists leave for home
KARACHI- Two French newsÂmen,Epsteinand Guilloteau who were set free by Sindh High Court with Rs2 lakh fine each yesterÂday left for Paris on Tuesday night.Lower court has sentenced them for six months rigorous imprisonment for violating visa regulations, as they pleaded guilty.
The SHC on Monday waived off their punishment. They were arrested in the city on Dec 16 on charges of illegally visiting Quetta.AFP adds: ‘We are quite happy to go home,’ Epstein told reporters at Karachi’s jinnah Intemational airport.
We are not sure that we will return again although Pakistan” is a wonderful place for reporting. People are wonderful,’ he said.
The pair were arrested December l6 for violating their journalist visas by traveling to quetta and held in jail for eight days until being released on bail. They were convicted Saturday of visa violations, sentenced to six months’jail and fined.
The Sindh High Court on Monday upheld their appeal against the sentence and said they were free to leave Pakistan. The pair said they had gone to Quetta to investigate the possiÂbleptesence of Taliban.
Source: The Nation
Date:1/14/2004
” 
” 
” 
” 
