Summary Heavy fines of convicted overseas Pakistanis could not be paid due to paucity of funds.
ISLAMABAD, Feb 21 (APP): A total of 7,016 Pakistani nationals have been imprisoned on various charges in prisons of different countries. These Pakistanis were arrested and imprisoned on the different charges including fake currency, murder, theft, and illegal stay etc.
According to official data, 738 Pakistanis have been imprisoned in Afghanistan, 254 in Australia, 56 in Bahrain, 52 in Bangladesh, 8 in Belgium, 275 in China, 01 in Cambodia, 177 in Hong Kong, 1 in Egypt, 386 in India, 5 in Indonesia, 200 in Iran, 87 in Iraq, 09 in Japan, 01 in Jordan, 06 in South Korea, 265 in Kuwait, 04 in Lebanon, 07 in Cyprus, 225 in Malaysia, 10 in Maldives, 32 in Nepal, 629 in Oman, 29 in Qatar, 1920 in Saudi Arabia, 55 in Sri Lanka, 01 in Singapore, 69 in Thailand, 60 in Turkey, 1800 in United Arab Emirates (UAE), 01 in Vietnam and 13 Pakistanis have been imprisoned in Yemen.
The government has established a special cell on Overseas Pakistanis (SCOP) for securing release of these prisoners.
The government also paid fines to secure the release of imprisoned Pakistanis.
However, heavy fines of convicted overseas Pakistanis could not be paid due to paucity of funds.
In 2010-11, 92 Pakistanis were got released by paying fines to gulf countries and Malaysia.
The release of 30 Pakistanis were secured by paying fines in 2011-12. In 2013, 14 Pakistanis were got released from India.
The government has paid Rs 1,323,390 for one way ticket for 32 destitute Pakistanis for their repatriation from Malaysia in April 2013.
An amount of Rs. 8,799,872 was paid to Dubai during May-June 2013 as fines for 77 Pakistanis prisoners, who had completed their sentences on petty charges, but were not being released.
A sum of Rs 1,600,000 had been paid to China for paying the fine of a Pakistani prisoner who completed five years of imprisonment in that country.
Rs 461,386 paid to Nepal for securing release of a Pakistani prisoner.
Likewise Rs 3,777,488 had been paid to Saudi Arabia for securing the release of four Pakistanis.
Yet other 72 Pakistanis prisoners included 42 from Sri Lanka and 32 from Thailand have been got released under bilateral agreement on transfer of offenders.
In addition, six prisoners were also repatriated to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture by China and Seychelles.
