Islamabad: Nine Pakistani nationals are in the custody of Spanish authorities for alleged involvement in terrorist activities, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said today.

Twelve Pakistanis were detained by Spanish authorities on terror charges and three of them were found not guilty after an investigation and released, Qureshi told the Senate or upper house of parliament.

Responding to a call attention notice, he said some "illegal material", including time devices and explosive-related material, were recovered from the other nine Pakistanis who are now in the custody of Spanish authorities.

The government had obtained the viewpoints of the detained Pakistanis after being granted consular access to them. The government has also established contact between the detainees and their families, Qureshi said.

The detainees had been provided legal assistance through the Pakistani embassy in Madrid. "We have arranged counsel for them. They were produced before court and their trial will commence shortly," he said.

Assuring the House that it was the government's duty to protect the rights and interests of Pakistanis at home or abroad, Qureshi said the authorities would take all steps to provide legal aid to the detained Pakistanis. He also hoped that they would be cleared of the terrorism charges.

Source : PTI