ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday informed the Senate that 2,393 Pakistanis were imprisoned and cases registered against them in Saudi Arabia due to different nature of crimes.
In reply to a question by Senator Samina Abid in the Upper House, the ministry said the Pakistani missions in Saudi Arabia had taken various steps to help the prisoners including 772 jailed in Riyadh and 1621 in Jeddah.
Some 868 Pakistani had been imprisoned in drugs case, 358 in theft, 71 in adultery, 64 in murder, 271 in forgery, 37 in fighting or brawal, 47 in bribery and 677 were those who had been jailed in miscellaneous crimes.
It was informed that consular visits were undertaken to meet the detainees and extended them possible assistance, adding emergency travel documents were issued to those detainees who had completed their sentence to travel back home.
The Pakistani missions raised the case of those who are near completing their sentences to ensure that they are set free without delay.
Similarly translation services are provided on request in the labour court and assistance has been provided in the disposal of assets and legal attorneys whenever needed.
The house was informed that problems coming into the notice of the Missions related to detainees were raised with relevant authorities.
It was also stated that approximately 2.2 million Pakistanis were working in Saudi Arabia.
