ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel was informed on Monday that there are 29,065 Pakistani prisoners in various countries abroad, with the highest 18,500 prisoners in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Irfanul Haq Siddiqui was held at Parliament House.
The committee reviewed the performance of the Foreign Services Academy (FSA), Institute for Regional Studies (IRS), and the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI).
The committee also reviewed the number of Pakistanis imprisoned in foreign jails, including the names of the prisoners, the crimes committed, the periods of imprisonment, and the steps taken by the government for their release.
The committee was given a comprehensive briefing on the Pakistani prisoners in various countries abroad by senior officials of the Foreign Office.
Committee chairman expressed disappointment that the requested information was not fully provided, particularly with regard to the number of Pakistanis imprisoned abroad, their names, crimes, the period of imprisonment, and the measures taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their release.
He highlighted the seriousness of the matter and suggested creating a special desk to handle the cases of Pakistanis imprisoned abroad and to maintain contact with their families.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the committee that most prisoners were those who had settled illegally in foreign countries and that their names, crimes, and other details could not be disclosed until complete documentation was received.
The committee was informed that there are 29,065 prisoners abroad as per the data obtained from across 87 Pakistani missions abroad, with over 18,500 in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Committee members pointed out that the issue had been previously raised and that the names and details of all prisoners were previously obtained.
However, the chairman stated that previous records would be reviewed, and steps would be taken to assist in the release of prisoners.
Senators Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Sherry Rehman noted that many Pakistanis imprisoned abroad are held for minor crimes and emphasised the need for effective measures to reunite them with their families.
Senator Kakar suggested that the committee should not only monitor the issue but also provide guidelines to the Foreign Office.
The committee directed the Foreign Office that foreign missions should be fully mobilised to assist in the release of Pakistani prisoners on the same pattern when other countries’ foreign missions act when their citizens are arrested abroad.
The officials of the Foreign Office; however, informed the committee that privacy laws in European countries are strict, and their governments do not provide information without the prisoners’ consent.
The committee also sought details on how many correspondences had been made with foreign governments for prisoner release, particularly, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Taking up another agenda item, the committee expressed their displeasure over the non-participation of the heads of the relevant institutions regarding the performance issues of FSA, IRS and ISSI.
The committee members emphasised that Parliament is the supreme institution and that the heads of these institutions should ensure their participation in committee briefings.
The chairman sought an explanation from the Foreign Office to determine the authority to ensure that heads of these institutions appear in the committee meetings.
Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar remarked that institutions should not adopt such an attitude, asserting that Parliament is the supreme institution.
Senator Sherry Rehman stated that the committee is important, and the heads of the relevant institutions should have ensured their participation and provided necessary information.
The chairman expressed disappointment and directed that the briefing agendas for these institutions be postponed until the next meeting to ensure their participation.
The meeting was attended by Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Anwaarul Haq Kakar, Senator Attaul Rehman, Senator Rubina Qaimkhani, Senator Muhammad Abdul Qadir, and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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