December 13, 2024
Islamabad (News International / Pakistan News - 13th December, 2024) A high-level policy consultation meeting was held on Thursday under the auspices of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) and Justice Project Pakistan. The meeting stressed the urgent need for comprehensive policy and institutional reforms to protect the fundamental human rights of Pakistanis imprisoned abroad in accordance with Pakistan’s Constitution and international obligations.
According to a press release issued by the NCHR on Thursday, the consultation was attended by representatives from the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, members of parliament, National Human Rights Institutes (NHRIs), diplomats, FIA and civil society.
According to the data presented in the meeting, as of February 2024, there are 23,456 Pakistanis imprisoned worldwide, of which 10,432 are in Saudi Arabia, 5,292 in the United Arab Emirates, 387 in Turkey, 40 in Iraq, 463 in Malaysia, 89 in Malaysia, 338 in Sri Lanka, 578 in Qatar, 59 in Oman, 100 in Kuwait, 371 in Iran, 313 in Bahrain, and 598 in the United Kingdom and Greece.
The event, held on the occasion of International Refugee Day, aimed to focus on the challenges faced by Pakistani refugees and prisoners abroad. The consultation was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Law and Justice, Ministry of Human Rights, FIA, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, members of parliament, diplomats and civil society. The meeting held two thematic sessions, the focus of which was protection and prevention.
These sessions discussed the safe migration process and improved consular protection. In addition, a comprehensive plan to improve the support system for Pakistanis imprisoned abroad was also discussed. Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court said that access to consular services is linked to the protection of life and the realization of human rights.
Under Article 4 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Government of Pakistan has the responsibility to provide protection to its citizens, wherever they may be, in accordance with the law. These rights transcend national borders and are not just diplomatic duties but are a legal obligation of the state. Consular officers abroad are an extension of the sovereignty of the state, which is indivisible and extends beyond borders.
This is a fundamental duty of the state. In his opening remarks, Senator Quratul Ain Marri said that for a person imprisoned abroad and his family, this is not just a legal issue but a deeply personal tragedy. He acknowledged the progress made in recent years and stressed the need to further consolidate these measures, saying that we need to strengthen diplomatic missions, facilitate prisoner transfer agreements.
Chairperson NCHR Rabia Javeri Agha highlighted the importance of access to legal aid, interpreters or consular assistance for these prisoners. She said that any human rights issue has many facets and all stakeholders will have to have at least one for the issue. I appeal to all consular officers to contact the local human rights commissions of their respective countries, which usually have unparalleled access to prisons and are always ready to help, as we saw in Malaysia.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada stressed the importance of representing Pakistanis imprisoned abroad with foreign leaders and spoke about the need to streamline the current scheme under which migration takes place. MNA Saba Sadiq, as Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights, expressed her full support on the issue and appealed for party cooperation. Government Legal Affairs Spokesperson Barrister Aqeel Malik stressed the urgent need for legislation to protect Pakistanis imprisoned abroad.
He said that we need to review the agreements for the transfer of these prisoners and see whether they are being implemented or not. Secretary Ministry of Human Rights Allah Deeno Khawaja highlighted the need to publicize the existing prisoner exchange agreements and said that until people are aware of their rights, they cannot lobby for their rights.
Executive Director Justice Project Pakistan Sara Bilal said that there has been a recent increase in the number of Pakistani prisoners abroad. This number has increased from over 12,000 in 2023 to over 23,000 in 2024. The report presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Parliament highlights the need for reforms and makes this dialogue a timely and important step towards finding solutions.
The meeting shared the findings of the NCHR investigative report “Perilous Journey” and screened documentaries by NCHR and Justice Project Pakistan. In addition, the National Human Rights Institute of Malaysia participated in the meeting in person, while the National Human Rights Institutes of Bahrain and Bangladesh participated virtually.
Their participation in this strategic roundtable will prove to be a milestone in future cooperation between human rights institutions on cross-border and international issues. SUHAKAM’s participation took a step forward in protecting the rights of Pakistanis imprisoned in Malaysia and supporting the prisoner exchange agreement between the two countries. In the event of this agreement, Pakistanis imprisoned in Malaysia will be able to return to Pakistan to complete the rest of their sentences in their home country.
The meeting also discussed this year’s World Refugee Day, acknowledging the immense sacrifices made by Pakistani refugees and their contribution to the country’s economy, acknowledging that these refugees contribute significantly to Pakistan’s economic development through billions of dollars in remittances, and highlighting the difficulties and challenges they face. The participants stressed the need to further strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation and make sustained and effective efforts to protect the rights of Pakistanis imprisoned in foreign prisons. At the end of the consultation, NCHR and Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) reiterated their commitment to advocate for the rights of Pakistani refugees and Pakistanis imprisoned abroad through government policies and consultation with stakeholders at all levels to protect the rights of prisoners and alleviate their suffering.
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