The students, in their 20s and from the US state of Virginia, were detained in December in the central Pakistani town of Sargodha, 190 km southeast of the capital. They have not been formally charged but could face lengthy prison terms if found guilty. The case of the Americans, who were arrested days after arriving in Pakistan, has raised alarm over the danger posed by militants using the Internet to evade tighter international security measures and plan attacks.
A defense lawyer for the five men, Kmal Shahid, who appeared on behalf of suspects, told reporters: “We will move Lahore High Court to seek bail. He said prosecution did not present substantial evidence.”
Police have said e-mails showed the five men contacted Pakistani militants who had planned to use them for attacks in Pakistan. The men told the court earlier they only wanted to provide fellow Muslims in Afghanistan with medical help.
