The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has granted pardon to 80 Pakistani prisoners languishing in different jails in the UAE, a statement by Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi said on Tuesday. The cases of several prisoners were submitted to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and the UAE President for grant of pardon to the Pakistani prisoners, undergoing different periods of sentence in Al-Wathba and Al-Ain prisons.
Pakistan's Ambassador to the UAE Jamil Ahmed Khan extended his profound gratitude to the Ruler of Abu Dhabi for the remission granted to the Pakistani prisoners. He expressed the hope that remission to Pakistani prisoners in other UAE prisons would also be granted by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, before the end of Ramazan.
The ambassador said Pakistan Embassy would continue making efforts to pursue the just causes and assist the UAE authorities in augmenting the welfare aspects of Pakistani prisoners. He urged the Ministry of Interior for stepping up its efforts for the early finalisation of 'Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons' between Pakistan and the UAE. Once the agreement was signed, it would offer opportunities to all Pakistani prisoners in the UAE to undergo remaining part of their sentences in their country, close to their hometowns and families, he added.