ISLAMABAD: Seven Pakistanis named Jawad, Shakeel, Khanullah, Mehrab, Tariq, Shoaib, and Ahsanullah arrived on Wednesday morning at Islamabad Airport after a released from the jails of Saudi Arabia.
They were taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) upon arrival and shifted to an FIA cell for interrogation.
This release is part of a program through which 7208 Pakistani prisoners were released from Saudi prisons between 2019 and 2024. It is a sensitive issue in Pakistan, given that many believe that the inmates are all poor laborers without any legal assistance.
Each year, a significant number of Pakistanis migrate to the Middle East, mainly working in construction or as domestic helpers. The remittances they send back play a vital role in supporting Pakistan’s economy.
The Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to Pakistan in 2019 also led to the release of 2,100 Pakistani prisoners languishing in Saudi jails.
