The Senate on Monday passed a resolution with majority vote, calling upon the government to ensure safe repatriation of 23,000 Pakistani prisoners languishing in foreign jails.
The resolution was moved by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri and she stated, “Cognizant of the fact that the Government of Pakistan has an obligation, under the Constitution and International law, to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens detained abroad”.
Mindful of the official estimates, according to which there are over 23,000 Pakistani citizens languishing in jails across the world without access to lawyers, impartial translators, or adequate consular assistance from the Pakistani diplomatic missions. These destitute Pakistanis face the harshest punishments due to their lack of understanding and assistance with the legal process.
This House, therefore, recommends that the Government of Pakistan should provide effective consular assistance and representation to all overseas Pakistani prisoners and ensure that their fundamental rights are not violated.
The Upper House also actively pursue the implementation of bilateral prisoner transfer agreements, with the aim of repatriating Pakistani nationals and allowing them to serve out their sentences in their home country”.
Meanwhile, commenting on the resolution, Minister of Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said that we have already arrangements with 11 countries regarding prisoners in abroad, while talks are also underway with 23 countries. This is the responsibility of the government and which is making all out efforts in that regard, he added.