Islamabad:
On Wednesday, the permanent senatorial committee of Pakistani abroad and the development of human resources ordered the authorities anxious to accelerate negotiations and finalize the prisoners transfer agreements with other countries.
Predictive by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the committee met at the former Pip Hall, parliaments. The Committee discussed questions related to the consular services provided to Pakistanis imprisoned in various countries, in particular in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Oman, with a specific emphasis on joint policies and initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA ) and attachés of community well-being.
With regard to prisoners in Saudi Arabia, the committee was informed that 900 people had been interviewed and that the national status of 400 had been verified by the Ministry of the Interior for Transfer.
In addition, Senator Faisal Vawda is committed to helping orphans, widows and older prisoners, offering to defend the stands if necessary. President Zeeshan Khanzada approved this initiative and extended his full support.
The committee was informed by the director general of the MOFA on the finalization of agreements with water, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, China, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Iran and South Korea and has been informed that the transfer of active prisoners was currently underway.
Stressing the need for adequate legal representation and impartial translators for prisoners, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada led the attachés of community well-being to ensure these provisions. He also asked the authorities concerned to accelerate negotiations and finalize the prisoner transfer agreements to facilitate the repatriation of Pakistani nationals, allowing them to purge their sentence in their country of origin.
In addition, the committee requested a detailed report on those imprisoned in foreign countries due to unpaid fines.
The Committee was also informed that around 5,000 Pakistanis were currently detained in the West, the majority found guilty of drug -related offenses.
While recognizing the efforts of community well-being attachés, the Committee recommended that the secretary of the Ministry of the Overse-Pakistanis and the development of human resources (M / O OP & HRD) addresses the question of the Purchase of biometric machines for CWAS parked during various missions. These machines would facilitate detainees in the renewal of their passports and CNIC, allowing them to make calls if necessary.
In response to a question from Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the committee was informed of the Clemence process, noting that in Oman, pardons for long -standing prisoners are only granted on public holidays. The Committee has also requested a detailed report on the funds allocated and used in the past two years for the payment of fines on behalf of the Pakistanis held in various missions.
The meeting ended with a discussion on the confiscation of passports when the Pakistani Zaire arrived in Iraq, which caused significant difficulties and humiliations in the hands of the Iraqi immigration authorities. The secretary of M / O OP & HRD has informed the Committee of measures taken so far to tackle the issue. At this stage, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada said he would approach the president of the Senate to appoint Senator Raja Nasir Abbas as a focal point for this issue.
