Karachi-based businessman Saifullah Paracha has returned to Pakistan after spending 17 years incarcerated at the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison, operated by the United States on the Cuban island.
Paracha, who has been described as the oldest and the last of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners, landed in Pakistan Saturday morning.
The arrangements for his return were finalized by Pakistan foreign ministry and other government departments.
The foreign office said that an extensive inter-agency process was completed before Paracha returned to the country.
“The Foreign Ministry completed an extensive inter-agency process to facilitate repatriation of Mr. Paracha. We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family,” a statement from the ministry of foreign affairs said.
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Saifullah Paracha was detained at the Bangkok airport after he arrived there from Karachi in July 2003. He was moved to the Bagram prison near Afghanistan’s Kabul and held there until September 2004 before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay.
He was never charged with any crime. In 2021, the US Prisoners Review Board declared that Paracha posed no threat to the United States.
The Karachi-based businessman had been involved in multiple sectors, including construction, and also owned a business and property in New York.
His American business partner was reportedly forced by the CIA to invite Saifullah Paracha to Bangkok.
Paracha’s only son Uzair Paracha was also arrested but released and sent back to Pakistan in 2020 by the US authorities after over 16 years in jail.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also tweeted in reaction to the development.
“Mr. Paracha, who was detained in Guantanamo Bay America, has been released & reached Pakistan on Saturday. The Foreign Ministry completed an extensive inter-agency process to facilitate repatriation of Mr. Paracha. We are glad that a citizen detained abroad is reunited with his family,” he said in a tweet.
