ISLAMABAD – Minister of Foreign Affairs Khawaja Asif on Wednesday informedthe Senate that 66 Pakistanis have been executed in Saudi Arabia in last 5years and there were 2937 Pakistani prisoners including 1357 in Riyadh and1580 in Jeddah.

He expressed these views while replying to questions during the QuestionHour in the Senate on Wednesday.

The minister said that the Pakistani prosoners were facing charges relatedto drugs, bringing unprescribed tranquilizer tablets, theft, forgery,immoral crimes, murder, rape, and brawl/fighting.

Asif told the Upper House of the Parliament that as per local regulations,practicing Saudi lawyers were asked to appear in the local courts.

The minister went on to say that as many as 66 Pakistanis had been executedin Saudi Arabia since 2013, adding that the main crimes committed by suchindividuals were related to drugs, rape and murder, he added.

The minister said that Pakistan’s Missions in Saudi Arabia providedconsular access to all the prisoners, however, legal services provided byour Missions were limited to translation, facilitation in preparation ofcases and persuasion with various agencies etc, he said.

To another question, the minister said that arrangements are being madewith various countries, including India, Afghanistan, Gulf, and Europeancountries for repatriation of convicted Pakistani prisoners to spend theirconviction term in Pakistan.

“Proposal has been sent to India to relax maximum and minimum age from 70to 60 and from 18-16 for exchange of prisoners between the two countries,”he added.