Call to provide legal help to Pakistanis in foreign jails

LAHORE:A senior lawyer and human rights advocate has formally approached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking comprehensive details regarding the plight of thousands of Pakistani citizens reportedly imprisoned abroad.

In a letter addressed to the Foreign Secretary, Advocate High Court and Chairman of the Juvenile Justice and Child Rights Committee of the Lahore Bar Association Sarmad Ali referenced media reports quoting official statements in the National Assembly that 23,456 Pakistanis are currently incarcerated overseas. A significant portion—over 12,000—are believed to be detained in Saudi Arabia alone.

Citing Article 19(A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees the right to information, and the Right of Access to Information Act 2017, Sarmad Ali requested a country-wise breakdown of female prisoners, particularly those detained with children, as well as the number of Pakistani children in foreign jails, if any. He sought the number of citizens on death row abroad and the countries where they are held. He demanded the government intervene, especially in cases involving women and minors, and called for legal support for detainees.