7,208 Pakistani prisoners freed from Saudi jails since crown prince's 2019 visit, Senate told

More than 7,200 Pakistani prisoners have been released from Saudi prisons between 2019 and 2024, according to details presented in the Senate on Tuesday. The data was shared in a written response by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Dar’s response was prompted by a question from Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur regarding the 2019 pledge by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to release Pakistani prisoners. The announcement had come during the crown prince’s historic two-day visit to Pakistan in February 2019.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the breakdown of prisoner releases includes 545 in 2019, 892 in 2020, 916 in 2021, 1,331 in 2022, 1,394 in 2023, and 2,130 in 2024.

“However, due to the continuous arrival of prisoners and deportations, it is difficult to categorically determine the exact number of those who benefited from the said amnesty,” Dar noted in his written response.

The data revealed that 4,301 of the freed prisoners fell under the jurisdiction of the Pakistan Consulate General in Jeddah, while 2,907 were under the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh.

In response to another query, Dar added, “The ministry is developing a comprehensive consular policy, which is being prepared through consultation with various stakeholders.”

The plight of thousands of Pakistanis imprisoned in Middle Eastern jails has long been a sensitive issue. Many detainees are believed to be low-income workers lacking adequate legal representation.

Each year, thousands of Pakistanis travel to the Middle East for work, primarily in the construction and domestic labor sectors. The remittances they send home play a vital role in bolstering Pakistan’s fragile economy.