• About Us
  • The TFT Story
  • Team
  • Write for TFT
  • Online advertisement tariff
  • Donate To Us
Saturday, June 25, 2022
  • Home
  • Editorials
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Videos
  • Citizens’ Voice
  • Lifestyle
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Good Times
  • More
    • About Us
    • Team
    • Write for TFT
    • The TFT Story
    • Donate To Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Editorials
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Videos
  • Citizens’ Voice
  • Lifestyle
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Good Times
  • More
    • About Us
    • Team
    • Write for TFT
    • The TFT Story
    • Donate To Us
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home

Pakistani prisoners in Sri Lanka return home

Sadaf Hassan by Sadaf Hassan
November 13, 2020
in Analysis, Reports
How new is Naya Pakistan?
13
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As many as 44 Pakistani prisoners currently in Sri Lankan jails have been repatriated to complete their remaining jail term in the country.

The return of these prisoners came under a 2004 agreement on the transfer of offenders between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. According to the agreement, transfers are allowed in cases where sentences exceed a minimum of six months. A chartered flight of the Pakistan International Airlines carrying these prisoners landed in Islamabad on November 4.

This is the first repatriation in seven years under the bilateral prisoner transfer agreement (PTA) signed by the two countries in 2004. In a statement issued after the prisoners reached Pakistan, Justice Project Pakistan commended the efforts of the Ministry of Interior, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, and the Pakistani High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Muhammad Saad Khattak for their commitment and dedication to protect the best interests of overseas Pakistanis in foreign jails.

The Transfer of Offenders Ordinance, 2002 was issued on August 3, 2002, allowing repatriation of prisoners whose sentences exceed six months of imprisonment. In January 2004, Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed the bilateral prisoner transfer agreement. In August 2012, 20 Pakistani prisoners, including two women, shifted to Pakistan to serve their remaining sentences. In September, 72 Pakistani prisoners repatriated from Sri Lanka and Thailand. In March 2015, Pakistan suspended the prisoner transfer treaties with other countries. In November 2017, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that local laws apply to convicts transferred to Pakistan.

In June 2018, Supreme Court of Pakistan directed the government to speed up the process of repatriation of Pakistani prisoners from Sri Lanka and other countries. In July 2018, the Sri Lankan president announced lifting 42-year moratorium on capital punishment for drug offences

In February 2019, the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed the government to restore prisoners transfer agreements. In November 2019, the National Assembly’s sub-committee on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development decided to discuss prisoner transfer agreements in detail.

The repatriation is a result of rigorous diplomatic engagement with the friendly nation. Pakistanis imprisoned abroad can be repatriated through bilateral agreements to transfer prisoners, allowing them to serve their remaining sentences closer to their families.

According to official numbers, 87 Pakistanis were imprisoned in Sri Lanka for various crimes. There are now 43 prisoners still incarcerated in the island country. Currently, there are more than 11,000 Pakistanis imprisoned abroad. Pakistanis imprisoned abroad are at the mercy of local courts without access to lawyers, impartial translators, or consular assistance from Pakistani diplomatic missions. These Pakistanis face the harshest punishments in foreign courts due to their lack of understanding of and assistance with the legal process, incapability to communicate directly with the court, and inability to produce evidence from Pakistan in their defense.

Ali Haider Habib, spokesperson of Justice Project Pakistan, added, “To be imprisoned in a foreign land surrounded by people who do not speak your language or share your culture is a harrowing experience. Imagine living through that during a worldwide pandemic. The repatriation of these prisoners shows the Pakistani government’s renewed commitment to safeguard the rights of overseas Pakistanis. Last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan requested Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to release Pakistanis imprisoned in the Kingdom on grounds of compassion, leading to the latter promising the release of 2,107 Pakistanis. The promise is yet to be fulfilled.”

Also Read:

Super Tax: A Bitter Pill Corporate Sector Should Swallow To Help The Country

States And Markets | Pakistan Economy Still Not Out Of The Woods

Tags: Reports
Previous Post

More questions from the ‘Karachi Incident’

Next Post

Farce for Old Pakistan, Prophecy for the Naya – III

Sadaf Hassan

Sadaf Hassan

Next Post

Banana Republicanism

Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent News

Karachi Activist ‘Abducted’ By Rangers Released After Social Media Outrage

Karachi Activist ‘Abducted’ By Rangers Released After Social Media Outrage

June 25, 2022
The Indomitable Struggle Of Usman Kakar

The Indomitable Struggle Of Usman Kakar

June 25, 2022
Depictions Of The Romance Of Laila And Majnun In Sindhi Tombs

Depictions Of The Romance Of Laila And Majnun In Sindhi Tombs

June 25, 2022

Twitter

Donate Us

Subscribe
The Friday Times – Naya Daur

News and views which are not fit to print.


The Friday Times is Pakistan’s first independent weekly, founded in 1989. In 2021, the publication went into collaboration with digital news platform Naya Daur Media to publish under a daily cycle.


Social Media

Latest News

  • All
  • News
  • Editorials
  • Features
  • Analysis
  • Lifestyle
Karachi Activist ‘Abducted’ By Rangers Released After Social Media Outrage

Karachi Activist ‘Abducted’ By Rangers Released After Social Media Outrage

by News Desk
June 25, 2022
0

Human rights activist Arsalan Khan, who was forcibly...

The Indomitable Struggle Of Usman Kakar

The Indomitable Struggle Of Usman Kakar

by Abdul Bais Khan
June 25, 2022
0

17 June 2021 was a sad recap of...

Follow Us on Instagram

Follow

    The Instagram Access Token is expired, Go to the Customizer > JNews : Social, Like & View > Instagram Feed Setting, to refresh it.
  • About Us
  • The TFT Story
  • Team
  • Write for TFT
  • Online advertisement tariff
  • Donate To Us

© 2022 All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Editorials
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Videos
  • Citizens’ Voice
  • Lifestyle
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Good Times
  • More
    • About Us
    • Team
    • Write for TFT
    • The TFT Story
    • Donate To Us

© 2022 All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist