14,286 Pakistanis currently held in prisons abroad

Islamabad:As per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of November 2023, there are 14,286 Pakistanis currently held in prisons abroad, 58 per cent of whom are incarcerated in the United Arab Emirates (5,292) and Saudi Arabia (3,100).

Between 2010 and 2023, at least 183 Pakistanis were executed in foreign countries, with 171 individuals meeting this fate in Saudi Arabia, a substantial majority. The data was released by Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) on the occasion of International Migrants Day.

In commemoration of International Migrants Day, JPP launhed an interactive data webpage dedicated to Overseas Pakistani Prisoners. The initiative is an effort to advocate for the rights of overseas Pakistani prisoners, providing a comprehensive platform for users to explore crucial statistics and qualitative data, including country-wise and crime wise breakdowns.

As a recently launched resource, JPP’s webpage provides cutting-edge data, disaggregated by country-specific and crime-wise statistics, equipping government officers and parliamentarians to formulate data-informed policies safeguarding the rights of Pakistani migrants, while humanising the plight of overseas Pakistani prisoners. For instance, the data indicates that a significant number of migrants currently face the death penalty abroad on drug offences, and are likely victims of trafficking. Additionally, the platform delves into the complexities of Pakistan’s Prisoner Transfer Agreements with key countries—an essential mechanism for facilitating repatriation – and underscores the importance for data transparency from relevant ministries.

Sarah Belal, Executive Director of JPP, emphasises the significance of this initiative, stating, "The launch of this webpage is a key step towards evidence-based policies that are likely to ensure that overseas Pakistani prisoners are aware of their consular protection rights and legal options. By providing accessible information, we aim to contribute to a more transparent and just system, ensuring fair treatment for even the most vulnerable people imprisoned abroad."

Justice Project Pakistan invites all stakeholders, including government officials, diplomatic missions, and civil society, to explore the interactive dataset/webpage and engage in constructive dialogue for the protection of the rights of overseas Pakistani prisoners. The country-wise breakdown of the data explore detailed information on Pakistani prisoners in different countries, facilitating a better understanding of the challenges faced by overseas prisoners and fostering collaboration to address their legal and humanitarian needs whereas crime-wise statistics give insights into the types of crimes leading to imprisonment, providing a nuanced perspective on patterns and trends that can inform policy discussions and interventions.

In addition to that, the data also provides information on prisoner transfer agreements and other key legislations and consular rights and protection: It also provides information on global advocacy for prisoners’ rights.