Govt decides to bring back Pakistanis convicted by foreign courts

0
203

The government has decided to bring back Pakistanis convicted by courts in other countries.

It will accord approval to give a final shape to the draft recommendations on execution of treaties with other countries in this regard.

An official of the Cabinet Division said initially the treaty would be finalised with five countries including China, Iran, Turkey, South Korea and Thailand.

An official of the Interior Ministry said about 1,500 Pakistanis were detained  in the jails of these five countries and on the other hand about 100 people hailing from these countries were kept in Pakistani prisons, adding that most of them had been arrested on account of their involvement in drug trafficking. Maximum cases of these foreign nationals were pending hearing in different courts.

Sources said most of the convicted Pakistanis were detained in Turkish jails and majority of these Pakistanis were involved in illegal stay and other offences. A good number of Pakistanis were lodged in the jails of Thailand and South Korea and most of Pakistani prisoners were facing drug trafficking related charges in Thailand.

They said Pakistanis detained in the jails of these countries had served one third of their jail terms.

Capital punishment is in place in China for the persons found involved in drug smuggling and per the Interior Ministry sources, two Pakistanis were detained in the prisons of China under the charges of drug smuggling.

One Pakistani was awarded death sentence in China some time ago for possessing drugs. The recommendations worked out by the Interior Ministry also spoke for initiation of steps to secure release of Dr Aafia under the Council of European Convention.

These recommendations were presented in the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday.