Pakistan seeks prisoner exchange deals as 23,000 nationals languish in foreign jails

Pakistan is working on prisoner exchange agreements with 33 countries as more than 23,000 of its nationals remain behind bars abroad, government officials told the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) house the highest number of Pakistani prisoners, with 12,156 and 5,292 detainees, respectively. Other significant figures include 811 in Greece, 753 in Oman, 384 in Malaysia, and 338 in Qatar, according to data obtained by Nukta.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the Foreign Ministry is developing a comprehensive consular policy to support imprisoned Pakistanis. He emphasized that Pakistan is committed to protecting its citizens under international laws, including the Vienna Convention.

Pakistanis in UAE prisons

A report from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis revealed that Pakistani embassies in the UAE have repeatedly requested updated lists of detainees from Emirati authorities, including crime details and sentence durations. However, the UAE has not provided the requested data since July 2023.

The document states that Pakistanis in the UAE are involved in 50 types of crimes, with the most common being drug-related offenses.

• 1,084 individuals are jailed for drug trafficking
• 761 for promoting drug use
• 223 for theft
• 200 for illegal property occupation
• 171 for residing illegally
• 147 for murder
• 57 for car theft
• 44 for begging
• 21 for kidnapping

Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain said Pakistani missions provide legal aid and guidance to detainees. Since only Emirati lawyers can represent them in court, Pakistani diplomats focus on advising prisoners on their legal rights.

Legal assistance and repatriation

The Pakistani consulate in the UAE has facilitated the repatriation of detained citizens by arranging air tickets, providing 125 flights last year. The mission also works with Emirati authorities to help families visit incarcerated relatives.

In Saudi Arabia, 3,069 Pakistanis have been arrested on drug charges, while others face sentences for theft and other crimes. The Saudi government deports prisoners using Saudi Airlines, with different countries following varied deportation policies.

Dr. Muhammad Arshad, Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis, highlighted the challenges in assisting detainees. He said Pakistani prisoners often struggle with passport renewals, preventing them from appealing their sentences.

“The problem of non-renewal of passports and identity cards is serious. If their citizenship is verified, we can appeal against their sentences,” he told the committee.

Call for action

Committee member Senator Faisal Vawda criticized the slow progress in assisting detainees, calling the PKR 5 million collected in fines over two years "trivial." He offered to personally contribute the amount to help secure releases.

Meanwhile, talks on prisoner exchange deals continue, with Oman among the latest countries engaging in negotiations with Pakistan. Officials said 1,929 Pakistani prisoners have been verified for potential repatriation in 2024.

As the government seeks diplomatic solutions, thousands of Pakistanis remain in foreign prisons, awaiting legal assistance or repatriation.