Pakistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs informed the National Assembly that more than 23,000 Pakistani citizens are currently imprisoned in different countries around the world over several crimes which includes rape, murder, drug trafficking and frauds. The minister informed that a total of 23,456 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned abroad, with the highest number 12,156 detained in Saudi Arabia.

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The statement was made during the lower house's question hour. Dawn, an English newspaper in Pakistan, reported that in a written reply, the ministry added that the United Arab Emirates holds the second highest number of Pakistani inmates, totalling 5,292.

Country-Wise List of Pakistanis Jailed

China

It was reported that of the 400 Pakistanis imprisoned in China, most were convicted in cases related to drug smuggling, rape, robbery, murder, and counterfeit currency.

Bahrain

Dawn reported that 450 Pakistanis imprisoned in Bahrain were convicted of drug trafficking, drug possession, and fraud. In Afghanistan, 88 Pakistanis were convicted of overstaying and security-related offences.

West Asia Countries 

In other West Asian countries, the record of Pakistanis continued to be poor. In Qatar, 338 Pakistanis were sentenced for crimes including theft, murder, narcotics offenses, money laundering, rape, and financial fraud, while Oman convicted 309 individuals for drug trafficking, murder, robbery, and sexual assault.

According to Dawn, Malaysia convicted 255 Pakistanis for similar offences, in addition to illegal entry. The situation remained troubling across several European countries as well.

European Countries 

Among European nations, Austria reported that Pakistani nationals were held for offences including illegal entry, human and drug trafficking, murder, and sexual harassment. While it confirmed convictions, the number of individuals involved was not disclosed.

According to Dawn, Norway did not provide details of the charges against three detained Pakistanis. Finland reported the conviction of two Pakistani nationals but did not share information about the specific offences.

France and Germany had convicted 168 and 94 Pakistanis, respectively. Other countries where Pakistanis were imprisoned included Canada, with nine detainees, and Denmark, with 27.

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In Azerbaijan, 11 out of 16 Pakistani prisoners were convicted for crimes such as murder, human and drug trafficking, and illegal entry, while the remaining five were still under trial. Dawn added that in Türkiye, 147 Pakistanis were convicted and 161 were under trial for various offences, including drug and human trafficking, sexual assault, and child abuse.

(With ANI Inputs)