ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari has reiterated the government’s commitment to bring back all citizens imprisoned abroad.
He speaking at a gathering hosted by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) to commemorate the upcoming International Migrants Day and celebrate the return of 41 Pakistanis earlier imprisoned in Sri Lanka.
The prisoners were repatriated under a 2004 agreement that allows eligible prisoners to be returned to their home countries and will serve the rest of their sentences in Pakistan.
Bukhari said the government has so far brought back 8,700 Pakistanis imprisoned abroad. “I can assure you that our government will not forsake Pakistanis imprisoned abroad and we will work to bring all destitute and vulnerable Pakistanis whether they have committed a crime or not,” he said.
He said many prisoners were also repatriated from countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He added that nearly a million people were sent abroad for work by the Pakistani government in 18 months prior to the pandemic.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka while addressing via video link said it is their fundamental responsibility to ensure that prisoners are not only sent back but are looked after. “For all the prisoners who are left here, we will do our utmost best to help you,” he said.
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In November, 41 prisoners from Sri Lanka were successfully repatriated and returned to Pakistan, to serve out the rest of their sentences close to their family and friends. Earlier this year, many prisoners were also repatriated from countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Due to the lack of a uniform consular policy, Pakistani citizens imprisoned abroad lack consular support and adequate legal representation, often suffering due process violations such as long periods of detention without charge or trial. The majority of Pakistani prisoners in foreign jails are arrested for non-lethal crimes such as drug trafficking, theft and violation of immigration laws.
Sarah Belal, Executive Director of Justice Project Pakistan, thanked the special and others in the government in working for the welfare of Pakistanis abroad.
While appreciating the government’s initiative and commitment to this cause, she reminded said there still remain over 11,000 Pakistani prisoners imprisoned in jails abroad. She hoped that the efforts to repatriate prisoners languishing in foreign jails will continue so that thousands of Pakistanis can return home.
