LAHORE, Pakistan: A Czech model who was sentenced to eight years on charges of attempting to smuggle heroin from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates will be freed next week following her acquittal by an appeals court, her lawyer said Friday.
According to the lawyer, Tereza Hluskova was acquitted by an appeals court earlier this week in the eastern city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.
Her attorney, Saiful Malook, said the now 24-year-old Hluskova will be released early next week after completion of paperwork.
She was arrested in January 2018 in possession of 8.5 kilograms, or 19 pounds, of heroin at the Lahore airport from where she was heading to Ireland via the UAE. Her sentence also included an $800 fine.
At the time of the arrest and during her trial, Hluskova, who had come to Pakistan to work as a model, pleaded she was innocent and that someone else placed the narcotics in her luggage.
Authorities in Pakistan regularly arrest both Pakistanis and foreigners over drug smuggling.
Czech model serving sentence for drug smuggling in Pakistan to be released next week – lawyer
https://arab.news/rqm8m
Czech model serving sentence for drug smuggling in Pakistan to be released next week – lawyer
- Tereza Hluskova was arrested in 2018 on charges of attempting to smuggle heroin from Pakistan to the United Arab Emirates
- She was acquitted by an appeals court earlier this week in the eastern city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province
Afghans rally against Pakistan and civilian casualties
- UN says a week of border fighting killed dozens of Afghan civilians, displaced over thousands
- Fighting broke out along the Afghan border after Pakistan launched air strikes targeting militants
GARDEZ, Afghanistan: Decorating their soldiers with colorful garlands, hundreds of Afghans rallied in border provinces to decry Pakistan killing civilians and to show support for their troops battling at the frontier.
A week of border fighting between the two neighbors has killed dozens of Afghan civilians and displaced tens of thousands, according to UN figures.
In Gardez, the capital of eastern Paktia province, residents gathered while some waved the white flag of the Taliban government.
“Today we’re out in central Paktia, Gardez, against the cruel attacks of Pakistan on Afghan civilians,” said Ghamay, a demonstrator who only gave one name.
“We’re out here to defend our land,” he added.
At least 42 civilians have been killed and 104 wounded since February 26, including children, the UN mission in Afghanistan reported.
Islamabad is yet to comment on civilian casualties and said its troops have killed more than 430 Afghan soldiers.
Afghanistan estimated Pakistani fatalities among troops at around 150. Casualty claims from both sides are difficult to verify independently.
Fighting erupted with an Afghan border offensive in retaliation for earlier Pakistani air strikes, which Islamabad said were targeting militants.
A rally was also held in the Gurbuz district of Khost province, which has been hit by fighting.
“Today’s protest is not just for a show, we’re out for those 17 martyrs in Kunar including women, children and old people,” said protester Obaidullah Gurbaz.
“You can see the soldiers standing behind us for the past seven, eight days. They are hungry and thirsty but defending the country strongly,” the 70-year-old added.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said more than 25 soldiers have been killed.
FIGHTING HITS FOOD AID
Clashes at the border have also displaced nearly 66,000 Afghans, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.
At least one of the UN agency’s centers in Nangarhar province “sustained significant collateral damage,” the IOM said.
As well as putting a halt to humanitarian support for Afghans returning from Pakistan, the fighting has also suspended emergency food aid.
About 160,000 people have been affected by the stoppage, the World Food Programme said, in a country already facing a hunger crisis.
One resident in Nangarhar said the UN agency “used to help us a lot,” but now he has cut the amount of bread he eats.
“We search around, sometimes with a full stomach and sometimes with half,” said Farhad, who only gave one name.
“Last night I went to my neighbors and relatives to borrow 1,000 Afghanis ($16) but nobody gave it to me.”
