The opposition expressed concern during the latest national assembly session over the delayed release of Pakistani prisoners living in Saudi jails despite a promise by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to let them go.
According to PML-N MNA Mian Riaz Hussain, many of those in jails have already served their term. Last week, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ejaz said the process of releasing Pakistani prisoners from Saudi jails was underway and the nation may receive “good news” in Ramazan, which starts in the first week of May.
When opposition members asked for the number of Pakistanis released after the crown prince’s statement ordering the immediate release of 2,107 Pakistanis in February, Ms. Aheer the Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development said that the information was coming in bits and pieces and the number of released prisoners would be known soon.
She also told the house that her office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are working together and the release of Pakistani prisoners is underway. She said 3,400 Pakistanis are still imprisoned in jails across Saudi Arabia.
