After reaching a deal with the Sri Lankan government, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi declared on Friday that at least 43 Pakistani convicts would be returned from the country.
The announcement was made in the wake of a meeting between Naqvi, Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha, Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Admiral (retd) Ravindra Chandra Srivijay Gunaratne, and other officials.
Naqvi said that throughout the course of the previous month, the interior ministry worked closely with Sri Lankan officials to make it easier for the prisoners to return. According to him, both countries have decided to speed up the repatriation procedure.
He said that the arrangements for the release of Pakistani inmates would be finalized in a matter of days, characterizing the accord as a “positive outcome” of diplomatic efforts.
The interior ministry thanked Sri Lanka for its assistance and emphasized the steady strengthening of ties between the two countries over the past seven decades.
Naqvi emphasized Pakistan’s dedication to strengthening bilateral ties in a number of areas.
Both nations committed to intensifying their cooperation, especially in the areas of security and drug-related initiatives.
A mutual agreement was made on April 4 between Pakistan and Iran to free detainees detained in each other’s jails for humanitarian reasons. While Pakistan was holding 60 Iranian prisoners, Iran was holding 160 Pakistanis captive.
On February 21, the foreign ministry briefed the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights about the 23,000 Pakistanis who are incarcerated abroad, including more than 15,000 prisoners.
In the meantime, Pakistan gave the Indian High Commission a list of 231 Indian inmates, comprising 184 fishermen and 47 civilians, who were detained in its jails on January 1. The list of 418 Pakistani detainees held by the Indian authorities was also disclosed.
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