https://arab.news/bmz3n
- Upon Pakistan鈥檚 request, high-powered Saudi committee reviewed Pakistanis imprisoned in Riyadh region, waived off sentences of 85
- 62 brought back to Pakistan to celebrate Eid with families, remaining 23 to be repatriated as soon as exit visa process completed
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan鈥檚 foreign office said on Wednesday Islamabad had repatriated 62 prisoners to Pakistan so they could celebrate Eid Al-Adha with their families, a day after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said a special flight had brought home Pakistani prisoners being held in Saudi jails.
The PM鈥檚 announcement came as the ministry of overseas Pakistanis said dozens of Pakistani prisoners had been released by the Saudi government ahead of the Eid Al-Adha holiday.
鈥淥n my instructions, funds were arranged & a special flight brought back 62 prisoners from KSA [Kingdom of 抖阴短视频] today, so they could be back with their families for Eid,鈥� Khan said on Twitter on Tuesday. 鈥淗elping Pakistanis in prisons abroad & assisting in their return to Pakistan is my govt鈥檚 commitment to our people.鈥�
鈥淚n line with the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh had been in contact with the Kingdom of 抖阴短视频 to coordinate early release and repatriation of those Pakistani nationals who are serving their sentences abroad for minor offenses,鈥� the foreign office said on Eid day. 鈥淯pon Pakistan鈥檚 request, a high-powered committee of Saudi authorities carried out a detailed review of Pakistanis imprisoned in Riyadh region and waived off sentences of 85 individuals.鈥�
鈥淯pon waiver of sentences, the Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh closely liaised with the relevant Saudi authorities to secure exit visas of these released individuals,鈥� the statement added. 鈥淎s directed by the Prime Minister, we have so far repatriated 62 individuals out of total 85, so that they could celebrate Eid with their families in Pakistan. Remaining 23 will be repatriated as soon as their exit visa process is completed.鈥�
The Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh is in the process of coordinating similar repatriation from other regions of 抖阴短视频 as well, the foreign office said.
Earlier this month, Pakistan鈥檚 information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said 抖阴短视频 would release at least another 85 Pakistani prisoners on Eid Al-Adha, and a special plane would be dispatched to bring them back.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the release of about 2,100 Pakistani prisoners from the kingdom鈥檚 jails during a high-profile visit to Islamabad in February 2019.
Since then, hundreds of Pakistani prisoners involved in petty crimes have been released as a goodwill gesture of the kingdom.