Shocking details came to light during the meeting, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, regarding Pakistani prisoners abroad. The committee criticised the officials for providing inadequate information concerning the individuals.
According to data from the ministry, approximately 417 prisoners are serving sentences in China, 598 in Greece, 463 in Malaysia, 738 in India, 578 in Oman, 422 in Qatar, 10,432 in Saudi Arabia, and 5,297 in the UAE, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada highlighted.
He remarked that the data reflects the ministry’s efforts towards the repatriation of prisoners.
Officials apprised the committee that the Prisoner Repatriation Agreements have been finalised with 11 countries, while discussions are ongoing with 15 others.
The committee recommended that the ministry should provide detailed profiling of the prisoners to understand the nature of the crimes they committed. It also inquired from the Community Welfare Attachés (CWAs) about how frequently they meet with the prisoners.
Senator Kazim Ali Shah pointed out that no welfare services have been extended to prisoners from Sindh. The committee decided to review quarterly performance of the Community Welfare Attachés and recommended allowing them to hire local diaspora members to more effectively expand welfare services to Pakistani prisoners abroad.
Discussing the performance of special courts established to facilitate overseas Pakistanis, the ministry informed the committee that Punjab has enacted the relevant legislation.
However, Senator Shahadat Awan pointed out that although the act was passed in 2024, no data has yet been provided regarding the number of cases processed in Punjab or in any other province.