Summary
- Islamabad: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, has outlined detailed measures to support Pakistani nationals imprisoned abroad, highlighting ongoing efforts to safeguard their rights, provide legal counsel, and facilitate repatriation.
- Officials noted that Pakistani Missions in Madrid routinely provide additional legal support when approached, although no unlawful detentions have been reported.
- The Ministry concluded that high level diplomatic discussions consistently include advocacy for the release and repatriation of Pakistani prisoners, reflecting sustained commitment to protecting nationals abroad and upholding their legal and human rights.
Islamabad: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, has outlined detailed measures to support Pakistani nationals imprisoned abroad, highlighting ongoing efforts to safeguard their rights, provide legal counsel, and facilitate repatriation. During a National Assembly session, the Ministry reported that the welfare of Pakistanis facing serious charges, including those on death row, critically ill, or subject to heavy fines in Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal, remains a priority.
In Spain, where capital punishment has been abolished, the Ministry emphasized that accused Pakistanis automatically receive free legal counsel and translation services, ensuring trials are conducted according to due process. Officials noted that Pakistani Missions in Madrid routinely provide additional legal support when approached, although no unlawful detentions have been reported. In 2023, the Spanish Mission engaged a law firm for €19,500 to represent 13 Pakistani mariners arrested aboard the M/V Blume for trafficking 4,400 kilograms of drugs.
Portugal’s Mission in Lisbon has focused on consular access, prisoner welfare, and facilitating communication with legal representatives. The Ministry revealed plans for a bilateral prisoner transfer agreement, enabling convicted Pakistanis to serve sentences in their home country, a move aimed at improving rehabilitation and family access.
The United Kingdom has repatriated six Pakistani prisoners in 2024 and three in 2025, with five additional cases in process for 2026. Ministry officials stressed that the UK judicial system operates independently, with early release considered only under good conduct provisions. The Ministry coordinates with HM Prison and Probation Service, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the Ministry of Interior to ensure proper documentation and secure transfer logistics for repatriated prisoners.
Senator Dar highlighted that Pakistani Embassies maintain continuous engagement with law enforcement and judicial authorities abroad. Missions ensure timely communication of arrest details, provide Emergency Travel Documents, facilitate family visits, assist with legal powers of attorney, and maintain data on prisoners in jails and deportation centers. Special initiatives include legal sections in Gulf State missions providing free legal consultation and petitions for sentence mitigation during occasions like Ramadan, Eid, and national holidays. Efforts also extend to death row prisoners, with appeals forwarded to local authorities to convert sentences to long-term imprisonment where feasible.
The Ministry concluded that high level diplomatic discussions consistently include advocacy for the release and repatriation of Pakistani prisoners, reflecting sustained commitment to protecting nationals abroad and upholding their legal and human rights.
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