ISLAMABAD – The Sub-committee of National Assembly Standing Committee onOverseas Pakistani and Human Resource Development on Wednesday was informedthat so far 579 Pakistani prisoners had been repatriated from Saudi Arabiato the country.
“These prisoners were released from Saudi jails on the order of CrownPrince Mohammed bin Salman during his recent visit to Pakistan”, thecommittee was briefed.
Some 579 Pakistani prisoners have been released and repatriated to Pakistanunder the royal pardon, Foreign Ministry’s Director General (middle East)Syed Zahid Raza told the sub-committee that was recently formed with themandate to ensure provision of legal assistance to under-trial Pakistaniprisoners, in different foreign jails.
The sub-committee, chaired by Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, was apprised thatthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the departments concerned, wasin constant contact with authorities in Saudi Arabia for the earlyrepatriation of the remaining prisoners whose release was ordered by thecrown prince on the request of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Dr Mahreen asked officials of Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and HumanResource Development and Foreign Office to arrange meeting of SaudiAmbassador with the committee members so that they could request them forthe early release of remaining prisoners.
Syed Zahid Raza said that the Foreign Ministry would facilitate thecommittee members in arranging meeting with the Saudi ambassador.
However, Managing Director Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Dr AmirSheikh opined that the matter should be pursued prudently.
The committee also sought the details of Pakistanis detained in Oman’sdetention centre so that it could assist the ministries for evolving thestrategies to provide legal assistance.
Syed Zahid Raza said there were some 3,000 detainees, locked up in Oman’sdetention centre for having invalid travel documents and illegal migrationand added they pretended to be Pakistani nationals.
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He said the details of detainees had been shared by Oman and theirhome-address verification was being conducted by the Interior Ministry.“The process of verification usually takes time,” he added.
Dr Mahreen asked the officials to share the time-duration of detainees inthe detention cell.
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The Director General assured the committee that the complete details ofdetainees would be shared in the next meeting.
The committee also took exception of the reported involvement of somePakistanis in trans-border drugs dealing and called the Anti-NarcoticsForce and Federal Investigation Agency in the next meeting to discuss theissue at length.
The committee was attended by the Secretary Overseas Pakistaniand HumanResource Development Division and officials of the OPFand Bureau ofEmigration and Overseas Employment.
