Procedure for repatriation of prisoners from Thailand followed: foreign office

Foreign Office on Thursday said that eight Pakistani prisoners were recently repatriated from Thailand after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Interior and completion of all formalities.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam during weekly press briefing referred to media reports about deportation of eight Pakistani prisoners in November last year without following the correct procedure.
Though Ministry of Interior is the focal point for the subject, yet she clarified that procedures were followed and Ministry of Interior was informed well in advance of the decision of the Thai government to deport eight prisoners. She said that they were deported only after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Interior and after completion of all codal formalities.
She said that an Agreement on Transfer of Offenders exists between Pakistan and Thailand since December 2009. As per this Agreement, a large number of prisoners have been deported to Pakistan over the years to complete their prison sentence here, she said, adding most of the Pakistani prisoners in Thailand are serving sentences on drug trafficking charges with lengthy sentences (20-40 years or even life term).
"In all cases proper procedures as laid down in the agreement and in consultation with the Ministry of Interior are followed", she said, adding all Pakistan Missions work relentlessly in providing all kinds of consular and welfare services to citizens abroad.
She said that every effort is made to alleviate the problems being faced by our community and consular assistance is provided on regular basis to our prisoners.