A Sri Lankan missionary detained last week over an alleged visa violation has been released, according to Church officials in Multan diocese.

Father Christi Silva of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate was arrested at St Mary’s Church in Multan and released on bail on January 30.

Fr Yaqoob Shehzad, director of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Major Superiors Leadership Conference of Pakistan, said the arrest was unjust.

“We showed [authorities] documents of visa renewal application last May, but they did not listen. Now they claim it was a misunderstanding.”