The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, chaired by Zeeshan Khanzada, received a detailed briefing by the Foreign Ministry on prisoner exchange agreements and the challenges faced by Pakistani prisoners abroad.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consular officials updated the committee on ongoing efforts and agreements with other countries.
The director general of consular affairs informed the committee that Pakistan has prisoner exchange agreements with 11 countries, including the UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Iran, Yemen, and South Korea. However, despite these agreements, no Pakistani prisoners have been repatriated under the exchange program.
According to the briefing:
- More than 4,500 Pakistanis have returned from Saudi Arabia after completing their sentences.
- Currently, around 10,000 Pakistani citizens are imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.
- In 2021, some individuals were sent back to Pakistan after their sentences were pardoned.
- The committee was briefed that Rs5 million have been collected for payment of fines for Pakistanis imprisoned abroad
- No major efforts have been made for the extradition of Pakistani prisoners so far, said Senator Shahadat Awan.
The Overseas Ministry secretary stated that the government does not bear the financial burden of prisoners convicted of personal crimes. The Riyadh community welfare attaché told the committee 19 people in the Saudi city owed fines of up to Rs1 million.
Vawda offers to pay fine
During the meeting, Senator Faisal Vawda expressed his support for paying fines of Pakistani prisoners detained abroad. He announced that he was willing to pay fines of Rs5 million to help prisoners secure their release.
"I will also assist orphans and widows who are unable to pay their fines," said Vawda. "I will provide all possible support to secure the release of those involved in petty crimes," he added.
Pakistani prisoners in Oman, Malaysia
The community welfare attaché in Oman revealed that:
- 753 Pakistani citizens are currently imprisoned in Oman.
- 390 prisoners are serving sentences of 10 years or more.
- A formal request from the prime minister or president could be effective in securing relief for these prisoners, said Raja Nasir Abbas.
Similarly, the community welfare attaché in Malaysia reported:
- 284 Pakistanis are imprisoned in different jails across Malaysia.
- 90 prisoners are convicted of drug-related offences, while 18 are facing attempted murder charges, and 11 for rape.
- 10 Pakistanis have been sentenced to death in Malaysia, primarily in drug and attempted murder cases. However, due to diplomatic efforts, their death sentences have been overturned, and many are now returning to Pakistan.
- 200,000 Pakistanis are legal residents in Malaysia. This number was 40,000 a few years ago.
Issues of Pakistani Pilgrims in Iraq
The Overseas Ministry secretary highlighted serious issues faced by Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq, stating that:
- People go to Iraq for pilgrimages, but their passports are taken away. In Iraq, jobs are obtained by just displaying passports, and people work discreetly.
- 150,000 to 200,000 Pakistanis travel to Iraq annually for pilgrimage.
- Unlike Saudi Arabia’s well-organized system, travel to Iraq remains disorganized.
- The Iraqi government has confiscated the passports of 50,000 Pakistanis, saying some pilgrims take up jobs after completing their religious obligations.
Senator Raja Nasser Abbas criticized the Iraqi government's stance on Pakistanis, stating that:
- Many travel through Iran to reach Iraq.
- Bribes are demanded at the border, and those who refuse face mistreatment.
- Pilgrims carrying Pakistani passports are often disrespected, with video evidence confirming such incidents.
The Senate Standing Committee has recommended that the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis take immediate action to resolve these issues and protect the rights of Pakistani expatriates and prisoners abroad.
