Court seeks details about Pak prisoners

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed the ministry of foreign affairs to submit information about 2,107 Pakistani prisoners to be released from Saudi Arab’s jails under special orders of the Saudi crown prince.

Justice Ayesha A. Malik also directed the ministry to file a report on the status of negotiations on the prisoner transfer agreement with the Saudi government and facilities provided to Pakistanis facing criminal cases in Saudi courts. The judge was hearing a petition filed by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) on behalf of 10 Pakistanis imprisoned in Gulf countries.

Barrister Sarah Belal represented the petitioners and informed the court about violations of the due process faced by Pakistanis under the Saudi justice system. She commended the government for its recent efforts to raise the issue of Pakistanis imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. She said there were more than 3,000 Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arabia while last month Saudi authorities announced immediate release of 2,107 Pakistanis after Prime Minister Imran Khan had raised issue before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The judge adjourned the hearing for two weeks.

Ali Zafar’s suit: District and Sessions Court Lahore on Friday directed trial court to wrap up Ali Zafar’s defamation suit against Meesha Shafi by April 15. District and Sessions Judge Khalid Nawaz has directed the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shakeel Ahmad to decide the case before April 15 on an application moved by Rana Intizar, counsel for Ali Zafar. The counsel had requested the session’s judge to issue an order to the judge concerned to decide the matter with in a month.

Earlier, an Additional District and Sessions Court had sought reply from singer Meesha Shafi on an application seeking criminal proceedings against her for allegedly submitting forged documents before the court.

Ali Zafar had filed a Rs1 billion defamation suit against Meesha Shafi on the charges of defaming the singer through allegations of harassment. The counsel for Ali Zafar contended before the court that Meesha Shafi had defamed his client through baseless allegations.