Nine hundred and sixty-three foreigners
are languishing in various jails in Punjab with, the majority
having completed their jail terms and are awaiting release.
According to officials
of the non-governmental organisation, Global Foundation,
respective embassy officials of the prisoners are yet
to approach authorities regarding their early release
now that their sentences are now complete. It has been
revealed that the majority of prisoners belong to Asian
countries while an estimated 342 foreign prisoners belong
to African countries.
About 262 foreigners are in Rawalpindi
and Islamabad where they have been detained in Adiala
jail. Shahid Saleem, the Adiala jail superintendent, said
90 foreigners had been sentenced by various courts while
172 foreign prisoners were currently under trial.
Mr Saleem told Daily Times that 53 prisoners,
including 33 Bangladeshi nationals, three Lebanon nationals,
four Iranian nationals, ten Nigerian nationals and three
Burmese national had completed their sentence.
He said officials of the respective embassies
did not approach the concerned authorities regarding their
release. Ulfat Kazmi, the Global Foundation president,
told Daily Times that he had written a letter to the foreign
and interior ministries regarding the plight of the prisoners,
adding that a copy of the letter would also be sent to
the concerned embassies. Mr Kazmi said he had asked the
Pakistani government, the UNHCR and the Federal Review
Board to closely examine the matter and initiate appropriate
measures for the early release of prisoners. A number
of foreigners who had completed their jail terms were
in various provincial jails including Lahore, Multan,
Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Muzaffargarh, Shahpur, Sialkot and
Faisalabad, said Mr Kazmi.
He said the organisation, in collaboration
with the UN and Red Cross had sent 42 prisoners back to
their respective countries.
