Islamabad (HRNW)– A comprehensive report submitted by the Ministry of Interior to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights has revealed alarming details about the number of Pakistanis imprisoned across the world. According to the report, more than 21,000 Pakistani citizens are currently incarcerated in foreign prisons, with thousands serving sentences and many others facing ongoing trials.
The report confirms that 8,569 Pakistanis have already been convicted, while 13,078 are under trial in various countries.
Countries Holding the Most Pakistani Prisoners
- Saudi Arabia tops the list, with thousands jailed in Jeddah and Riyadh combined.
- Jeddah: 3,335 convicted, 2,110 under trial
- Riyadh: 2,635 convicted, 2,665 under trial
- United Arab Emirates: 5,297 Pakistanis imprisoned
- India: 738 Pakistanis in Indian jails
- China: 652 Pakistani citizens imprisoned
- Qatar: 599 imprisoned
- Malaysia: 310 convicted, 134 under trial
- Oman: 578 prisoners
- Greece: 460 convicted, 56 under trial
Global Overview of Pakistani Prisoners
The report provides detailed country-wise statistics, including:
- Afghanistan: 91
- United Kingdom: 23
- United States: 141
- Iran: 101 convicted, 68 under trial
- Iraq: 51 convicted, 30 under trial
- Italy: 220 convicted, 133 under trial
- Japan: 7 convicted, 16 under trial
- Turkey: 190
- Australia: 27
- Canada: 9 convicted (data limited due to privacy laws)
- South Africa: 30 convicted, 44 under trial
- Spain: 41 convicted
- Sri Lanka: 4 convicted, 28 total
- South Korea: 5
- Sweden: 3
- Azerbaijan: 23
- Georgia: 17
- Bahrain: 218
- Cambodia: 3 convicted, 19 under trial
- And numerous others across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Some countries—including Finland, Canada, and Norway—did not share complete data due to strict privacy regulations (GDPR and local laws).
Nature of Charges Against Pakistani Nationals
The charges vary by country and include:
- Drug trafficking, smuggling, and narcotics violations
- Visa fraud, document forgery, and illegal border crossing
- Sexual assault, harassment, and rape allegations
- Robbery, burglary, and organized crime
- Human trafficking and illegal confinement
- Murder, attempted murder, and possession of illegal weapons
Role of Pakistani Missions Abroad
The report highlights the continuous efforts of Pakistani embassies and consulates worldwide:
- Missions maintain regular contact with prison authorities to monitor prisoners’ conditions.
- Upon receiving information about an arrest, missions immediately seek consular access.
- Prisoners are provided legal guidance, documentation, and support.
- In case of mistreatment or misunderstandings, missions intervene with authorities.
- After completion of sentences, missions issue emergency travel documents to facilitate early repatriation.
The report notes that in some European countries, prisoners often refuse to allow missions to contact them due to privacy rights, but embassies continue coordination with jail authorities.
Awaiting Reports
In several countries, responses are still awaited due to delayed communication or local legal restrictions.
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