8,000 Pakistanis in foreign jails

A Pakistani parliamentary committee was informed Tuesday that there are nearly 8,000 Pakistani nationals imprisoned in different foreign countries.

They have been charged in terrorism activities, murder, illegal stay, drug smuggling, rape, sexual assault, dealing in fake currency, theft and overstaying, the foreign ministry told the senate standing committee on interior at a briefing, Xinhua reported.

Some European countries have not provided information about the crimes due to privacy laws, the ministry said.

The committee directed the foreign ministry to provide legal assistance to the Pakistani prisoners according to the law of land.

According to the foreign ministry, 346 Pakistani prisoners are imprisoned in Afghanistan jails for terrorism activities, Talibanisation, dealing in fake currency, murder, theft, holding fake identity cards, drug, rape and illegal stay.

In India, 386 Pakistanis are in jails for violation of immigration laws, overstaying and border crossing.

In Saudi Arabia, 1,920 Pakistani prisoners are in jails for drug trafficking, theft and rape.

There are 800 Pakistani prisoners in jails in the United Arab Emirates for illegally staying, drug trafficking, forgery, fraud, theft and traffic rules violations.

In the US, 102 Pakistani prisoners are in jails for immigration law violations, sexual assault, murder, overstay, running illegal eateries, fraud, theft and marriage fraud.

There are 335 Pakistani prisoners in British jails for committing violent acts, sexual offence, theft, fraud, rape and murder.

--India-Asia News Service

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