Islamabad, Oct 3  The Saudi Arabia government has freed five Pakistanis who were wrongly implicated in a narcotics case in that country, the Online news agency reported.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday welcomed the decision by the Saudi government.

The Pakistanis were freed after the arrests of the real culprits who had placed the narcotics in the victims' belongings before they boarded the flight to Saudi Arabia. The accused were arrested in Pakistan.

Gilani invited the freed Pakistanis to his house after they arrived here Friday. "Your innocence has added to the country's pride," the prime minister told them.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik was in Saudi Arabia to discuss about their release. (IANS)