Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken measures to provide legal assistance to Pakistani prisoners languishing in foreign jails for their alleged involvement in heinous crimes, including drug smuggling and illegal immigration, for speedy justice. The Senate Committee on Human Rights was told this, which met here on Monday with Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar in the chair. The committee was given a comprehensive briefing on various issues including Pakistanis imprisoned abroad and actions taken to secure them.
During the briefing, Special Secretary to the Foreign Office, Jamal Khan informed that the ministry had prepared guidelines under the directions of the Supreme Court for the prisoners who were facing serious problems in friendly countries like Turkey, China and Saudi Arabia.
He said legal assistance was being provided by hiring lawyers to the prisoners involved in heinous crimes like drug smuggling and illegal immigration for speedy justice.
"We are launching special campaign for counselor access with the respective governments, as around 3,000 detained prisoners are in Saudi Arabia while around 6,000 are in Turkey," he informed.
He further said that under the guidelines given by the Supreme Court and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), "we have prepared a comprehensive plan to provide them donations and also devised a mechanism to identify them."
The horrific incident that took place in Ahsanabad, Karachi, where a minor namely Umar lost both of his arms and suffered severe burn injuries after electric wires fell on him, was also discussed in the committee.
The chief distribution officer of K-Electric briefing the committee said, "We acknowledge our negligence and are ready for providing all possible medical assistance to the boy within the country."
He said that education expenditures till masters, implanting artificial limbs, care and job security of the victim would be the responsibility of the K-Electric.
Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar strictly directed the K-Electric to fulfil the victim family's needs on urgent basis.