Daily Times

Saudi Arabia imprisons more Pakistanis than any other country, with the total exceeding 3,300 people.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seems to have become Pakistan’s favourite ally in the last year notwithstanding the fact that the dashing new prince is not the first to deem Pakistan his closest friend. Pak-Saudi relations have been going strong since before the partition.

Whether it is Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto with Saudi King Shah Faisal or Nawaz Sharif with late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, history has repeated itself time and again.

Imran Khan is no different. He chauffeured the Saudi Prince Muhammad Bin Salman around during his recent visit. Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa is now seen shaking hands with Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Ahmed Al Jubeir. The only difference was when the prime minister was chivalrous enough to bring up the Pakistanis imprisoned in Saudi Arabia during MBS’s visit to Pakistan.

He was chivalrous alright, forgetful even more so.

Thousands of Pakistani families await the return of their loved ones from the Kingdom today. No list has been shared of the names of the returnees. Nothing has been done to ensure their return. The promises bear no sanctity, hence, no action. Fulfilment is a far-fetched dream.

As many as 1.6 million Pakistani migrant workers have been living in Saudi Arabia; making it the country’s second-largest migrant community. Despite being a regional ally, Saudi Arabia imprisons more Pakistanis than any other country, with the total exceeding 3,300 people. It violates the due process; denying detainees access to lawyers and translators, with minimal to no consular assistance. These destitute Pakistanis face the harshest punishments 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 defence.

The cherry on the cake–we ignite hope with promises only to shove them deeper into despair.

Sameena, daughter of Haleema Bibi, travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah five years ago. An acquaintance asked her to take some medicines with her to deliver to someone in Saudi Arabia. The medicines, however, turned out to be contraband. Sameena was arrested immediately upon her arrival in Jeddah.

Her mother awaits her return for the last five years. She cannot stop wondering if Sameena will be one of the 2,107 lucky prisoners the Saudi Prince promised to release.

Federal Minister for Human Rights, Shireen Mazari, announced in May that their return should be expected around Eid. Haleema was going to wear new clothes this Eid after five years. Like many others, Haleema didn’t get the chance to celebrate. She sits about waiting, even today.

Not only is it the Pakistani government’s immediate responsibility to ensure the freedom of the 2,107 prisoners imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, but it is also its vital duty to advocate and devise a long-term sustainable solution to this problem. Pakistan urgently needs a policy devised and instated to ensure due protection is provided by the consulate to its citizens facing charges abroad.

As of yet, Pakistan does not have a uniform consular policy that provides guidelines to missions abroad in case of arrest or detention of a Pakistani national. The Lahore High Court, in pursuance to litigation filed by Justice Project Pakistan on behalf of the families of 10 prisoners facing execution in GCC, had directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to draft a consular policy for its overseas citizens imprisoned abroad and/or facing execution. Two years later, however, a consular policy remains to be seen.

The plight of these Pakistanis remains unaddressed. All they do is wait a little and then wait some more.

I agree with Meg Ryan when she says, “I heard that chivalry was dead, but I think it’s just got a bad flue.”

In Pakistan’s case, maybe a flue that induces silent forgetfulness.

The writer heads communications at Justice Project Pakistan