Jailed abroad: SC orders govt to form committee

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) ordered the government to constitute a four-member committee for the repatriation of Pakistanis jailed abroad on Thursday.

The court summoned foreign, interior and finance secretaries to clarify the government's stance on the issue.

The special committee would comprise joint secretary from the ministry of finance, secretary foreign affairs, the interior secretary and a member of the crisis management cell.

During the hearing today, the finance secretary asserted that money was not an issue if the ministry of foreign affairs could guarantee repatriation of Pakistani citizens.

Meanwhile, head of the bench hearing the case, Justice Javed Iqbal expressed dissatisfaction over the apologetic and defensive attitude of the government. He declared that it was the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens.

In the previous hearing, the court was informed through a report that over 6,000 Pakistani nationals have been detained in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Thailand and the Middle East.

The hearing was adjourned for four weeks.