Pakistan has stepped up diplomatic and legal efforts for the safe return of its citizens detained or stranded in Cambodia, where arrests and deportations of Pakistanis have risen sharply in recent years.
Officials said 84 Pakistanis, including eight women, are expected to return home soon, while the government has decided to accelerate prisoner repatriation, legal assistance and coordination with host countries.
An important meeting was held at the Ministry of Human Rights on the issue of Pakistanis imprisoned in Cambodia. The meeting was chaired by Parliamentary Secretary Saba Sadiq.
Officials briefed the meeting that Pakistani youth are currently in detention in some countries, including Cambodia, and that it is necessary to bring back those held in illegal detention.
54 Pakistanis arrested in recent operation
Foreign Ministry representative Ramiz Malik told the meeting that 54 Pakistanis were arrested in Cambodia in a recent case. According to the briefing, local authorities detained them during a raid on a compound.
Pakistani mission officials immediately obtained access, visited the camp where the Pakistanis were being held and identified the detained citizens.
Officials said some of the detained Pakistanis did not have travel documents. The Pakistani mission provided travel documents to nine people.
The arrested Pakistanis reportedly said they would return by booking tickets by May 3 or 4.
84 Pakistanis to return soon
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, during his weekly press briefing in Islamabad, said 84 Pakistanis stranded in Cambodia, including 76 men and eight women, are expected to return home soon.
He said Cambodian authorities granted consular access to Bilal Mohsin from the Pakistani mission, who met the arrested Pakistanis. According to the spokesperson, the Cambodian authorities treated the Pakistanis well.
The spokesperson said legal charges against the arrested Pakistanis are being dropped at the request of the Pakistani government. He said they will be sent back to Pakistan as soon as legal proceedings are completed.
Andrabi said the government’s top priority is the safety of Pakistani citizens and their safe return to their homeland.
Saba Sadiq says embassy in contact with Pakistanis
Parliamentary Secretary Saba Sadiq said the Pakistani embassy in Cambodia is taking care of the detained citizens. She said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has made special efforts for their safe return.
“They are currently ready to return,” she said.
Saba also said the Pakistani embassy is in contact with all arrested Pakistanis.
The briefing said detained Pakistanis are being provided food and basic facilities. Officials said there are no reports of violence against the Pakistanis in detention.
Saba said the Ministry of Human Rights and other institutions will provide full facilities to Pakistani citizens. She said the government will help those Pakistanis who do not have money for tickets to return home.
“If anyone does not have money for the ticket to bring Pakistanis back, we will help them to bring them safely to Pakistan,” she said.
She also expressed her intention to visit Cambodia and meet the imprisoned Pakistanis.
Deportations rise sharply from Cambodia
Officials told the meeting that around 2,300 Pakistanis have been deported from Cambodia in the last three years.
In the last three months alone, around 1,000 Pakistanis have been sent back. The briefing said the number of Pakistanis being caught in Cambodia is increasing.
Officials said arrests are likely to rise further after Cambodia introduced a new law on April 7. According to the briefing, investigations are now being completed within 72 hours. The new law includes five online schemes, while local authorities have launched a crackdown.
Online fraud and visa violations cited
The Foreign Ministry representative said some detained Pakistanis were allegedly involved in online counterfeiting, while others had overstayed. The briefing said fraud-related cases include money laundering, fake recruitment and preparation of identity documents.
Officials also said some youth travel legally but are later handed over to counterfeiters. Others go abroad for employment and become involved in illegal activities, after which host countries arrest and deport them.
Officials said similar cases are emerging in Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. According to Malik, around 15,000 Pakistanis are in Cambodia, and many are involved in such activities. He said some are working there willingly, with companies providing money and other benefits.
Officials also said the region is advanced in human trafficking.
The Foreign Ministry representative said the arrested Pakistanis belong to Mandi Bahauddin, Mianwali and Sargodha. He also said Chinese, Bengali and Indian citizens were caught in the same compound raid in Cambodia.
Public warned against unverified online jobs
Andrabi advised citizens to carry out complete verification before traveling for online jobs in the ASEAN region. He said many Pakistanis go abroad and work on a visit visa, which is a serious visa violation.
According to Andrabi, going to work on a visit visa is a “first-degree visa violation.”
The government has decided to expedite the return of prisoners and provide legal assistance. Officials said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant institutions are increasing cooperation with host countries.
The aim is to handle such cases more effectively in the future and ensure the timely return of Pakistani citizens.
Pakistan also in contact with Somalia over abducted citizens
During the same Foreign Office briefing, Andrabi also addressed the issue of Pakistani citizens taken hostage by pirates in Somalia. He said contacts had been made with Somali authorities.
According to the spokesperson, Pakistan has been informed that its citizens are safe. He said Somali pirates are in direct contact with the owner of the ship. He added that piracy remains a very challenging issue.
The spokesperson said Pakistan’s first priority is the protection of its citizens and their safe return to their homeland.
