Some 700 Pakistani prisoners, most of them convicted of petty crimes and some charged with drug trafficking, are languishing in jails throughout the Kingdom.
Syed Hammad Abid, community welfare attaché at the Pakistan Embassy, told Arab News on Friday: “The embassy gives special importance to Pakistani prisoners detained in various jails. On instructions from Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan, I visited the Dammam and Al-Qatif jails with a legal adviser and met with Pakistani prisoners.”
Stating that 140 Pakistani prisoners were detained for various offenses in Dammam and Al-Qatif jail, Abid said most of them have not been convicted and their cases are in trial in different courts. “Details of their cases were being gathered with a view to provide them possible legal assistance,” he said.
“We also made inquiries about their health condition and their problems were reported to jail authorities,” he said, adding: “During the visit, special access was arranged by the Saudi authorities to meet the prisoners. Many Pakistani prisoners were happy with the administrative arrangements taken up by the Saudi government in jails.”
Appreciating the cooperation extended by the Saudi government in giving permission to visit Saudi jails to meet with Pakistani prisoners, the embassy official said: “There were some prisoners with health related problems, which was also reported to the authorities.”
He said the Pakistan Embassy would try to get those convicted of petty crimes released. “This is a routine process and the Saudi government has always been forthcoming whenever we asked for access to the prisoners,” Abid said, adding that he also planned to visit other jails under the jurisdiction of the embassy.
Recently, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry informed the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control that around 7,912 Pakistani prisoners are imprisoned in various countries. According to the Foreign Ministry, Pakistani prisoners are held in different countries on charges of terror activities, fake currency racket, murder, theft, fake NIC, drug, rape and illegal stay.
Earlier, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) welcomed the announcement of the Saudi government on the release of Pakistani prisoners during the holy month of Ramadan.
Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan has also requested the Saudi government to release prisoners and repatriate those convicted of petty crimes.
Prisons hold 700 Pakistanis
