CJP wants to know what MoI has done for Pakistanis imprisoned abroad

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Tuesday questioned the performance of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) in matters related to overseas Pakistanis.

“Pakistani citizens are imprisoned in foreign countries’ jails. Where is the interior ministry?” questioned the CJP during the hearing of a case pertaining to Pakistanis imprisoned in foreign countries.

“Nisar thought of suspending the agreement pertaining to transfer of prisoners, ” remarked the CJP while criticising former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar in a reference to Pakistan’s decision in 2015, which put a halt to the implementation agreements on swapping convicted prisoners with various countries including the UK, UAE, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Spain.

“Please tell us, how long will it take for the prisoners to return to Pakistan. Ask the interior minister and then tell us,” Justice Nisar said, directing officials concerned to inquire about the situation from both the interior and foreign ministries.

Earlier, the petitioner had pointed out that 87 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned in Sri Lanka, as well as, 83 in Thailand, 2,710 in UAE, 423 United Kingdom, 69 in Turkey, 189 in Iran and 3 in Azerbaijan.