A parliamentary committee was informed on Monday that more than 17,000 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned in various countries, with the majority held in Middle Eastern jails. The revelation came during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, which focused on the challenges faced by under-trial and convicted Pakistani nationals abroad.
Officials told the committee that out of the total 17,321 detainees, an overwhelming 17,236 are imprisoned in Middle Eastern countries, while 85 are being held in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, was unable to provide details on the nature of the crimes for which these Pakistanis are incarcerated.
The committee expressed serious concern over the absence of this critical data, directing the ministry to present comprehensive information within 15 days. This includes details of all overseas Pakistanis who are convicted or facing trial, the nature of their charges, and a list of countries that either notify or fail to notify Pakistani authorities in such cases.
Community Welfare Attachés (CWAs) stationed in various countries provided updates on detainee numbers within their jurisdictions. The CWA in Dubai reported 3,523 Pakistani prisoners, Doha reported 619, and Kuala Lumpur reported 499.
Senator Khanzada urged both the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to speed up efforts in finalising prisoner transfer agreements with other countries. Such agreements would allow innocent Pakistanis caught in legal disputes abroad to be repatriated and potentially serve their remaining sentences in Pakistani prisons.
The committee also pressed for the immediate enactment of a consular protection bill to ensure legal and humanitarian safeguards for Pakistani citizens abroad. Senator Nasir Mehmood specifically recommended that the citizenship status of the 85 Pakistanis in Afghan jails be verified without delay.
During the meeting, concerns were raised about the performance of Community Welfare Attachés. The committee directed the concerned ministry to provide its evaluation criteria for CWAs, along with detailed, jurisdiction-wise data of all detained Pakistanis.
Senator Shahadat Awan criticised the incomplete information submitted by the relevant ministries, calling for accurate, professional, and comprehensive data to be presented before the committee. He underscored the importance of better coordination between the ministries of foreign affairs, interior, and overseas Pakistanis to improve the welfare of citizens abroad.
The committee also examined the operations of the National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC). Senator Khanzada commended the commission’s efforts and advised aligning its training programmes with international standards to increase employment opportunities for Pakistanis overseas.
In conclusion, the meeting highlighted significant gaps in inter-ministerial cooperation, data sharing, and legal protections for Pakistanis imprisoned overseas. Senators stressed that passing the consular protection act and securing prisoner transfer agreements should be prioritised to safeguard the rights and dignity of Pakistani citizens around the world.
The session was attended by Senators Raja Nasir Abbas, Nasir Mehmood, Shahadat Awan, Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, and Khalida Ateeb.
