56 Pakistani prisoners return home from Sri Lanka

ISLAMABAD: 56 Pakistani prisoners who were imprisoned in Sri Lanka for several years returned home on Monday, thanks to the efforts of Federal Ministers Mohsin Naqvi and Abdul Aleem Khan.

A total of 56 prisoners, including 51 males, and five women, returned from Sri Lanka on a chartered plane.

“We are thankful to Mohsin Naqvi and Abdul Aleem for bringing us back to our home,” said one prisoner.

Earlier, in July of this year, the Federal Minister of Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi met with Sri Lankan High Commissioner Admiral Ravindra Chandra Srivijay Gunaratne. The two sides agreed to expedite the release of the Pakistani nationals, in a discussion that also involved anti-narcotics and border security issues.

Three months of communication with Sri Lankan authorities ensued, culminating in their arrival on Monday.

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The Federal Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan announced that he would bear the expenses involved in the repatriation of the prisoners.

Naqvi expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankan government and its high commissioner for their support and praised Aleem Khan for funding the prisoners’ return.

Over 23,000 Pakistanis are still currently imprisoned abroad, including 15,000 convicts, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over 12,000 of said prisoners are in Saudi Arabia, with the next highest amount being in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). 706 Pakistani prisoners are in India.

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