Captives of pirates: Interpol to be approached for Pakistanis’ release
NA informed that five Pakistani students are imprisoned abroad.
ISLAMABAD:
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that all necessary measures were being taken by the government to secure the release of four Pakistani nationals who are in the captivity of Somali pirates. Malik added that he would take up the issue with the International Police (Interpol) for the quick release of the hostages, who have been in captivity since August 8, 2010.
Not certain if the pirates will release Captain Wasi and the other captives after receiving the ransom, the minister said that he will seek a permanent solution of kidnappings at the hands of Somali pirates.
Speaking outside the Parliament House, Malik condemned the burning of the Holy Quran, and said that Terry Jones, a pastor who had burned copies of the Holy Quran in the US, was no different from Taliban.
Pakistan, he said, will continue its fight against terrorism and extremism till the elimination of extremists and militant elements from its soil.
Later in the day, a Pakistan-India Judicial Committee on Prisoners called on Malik and discussed the exchange of prisoners who had completed their sentences in each others’ jails.
The committee, comprising retired judges of the superior judiciaries of both the countries, was mandated to visit jails in Pakistan and India and recommend measures to ensure humanly treatment with the prisoners and the release of those who had completed their sentences.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar told the National Assembly on Thursday that at least five Pakistani students are currently imprisoned in different jails abroad on the charges of terrorism, rape and murder.
Responding to questions, Khar informed the National Assembly that according to information received from Pakistani missions, Ahmed Adnan Chaudhry was arrested on charges of attempted murder in the US; Adnan Mirza was arrested for possessing a gun and hatching a conspiracy against the US government; Abid Naseer is jailed on charges of plotting a terror attack during Easter in the UK; Aqeelur-Rehman was arrested for involvement in terrorist acts in Spain and Salman Dar has been imprisoned on charges of rape.
She added that extradition treaties with 35 countries were in process. Currently, Pakistan had treaties for exchange of offenders with Thailand, United Kingdom and Sri Lanka only.
Responding to a question, the state minister said that 5, 000 Pakistanis had been brought back from Libya. However, the operation was left incomplete owing to a lack of funds.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2011.
Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that all necessary measures were being taken by the government to secure the release of four Pakistani nationals who are in the captivity of Somali pirates. Malik added that he would take up the issue with the International Police (Interpol) for the quick release of the hostages, who have been in captivity since August 8, 2010.
Not certain if the pirates will release Captain Wasi and the other captives after receiving the ransom, the minister said that he will seek a permanent solution of kidnappings at the hands of Somali pirates.
Speaking outside the Parliament House, Malik condemned the burning of the Holy Quran, and said that Terry Jones, a pastor who had burned copies of the Holy Quran in the US, was no different from Taliban.
Pakistan, he said, will continue its fight against terrorism and extremism till the elimination of extremists and militant elements from its soil.
Later in the day, a Pakistan-India Judicial Committee on Prisoners called on Malik and discussed the exchange of prisoners who had completed their sentences in each others’ jails.
The committee, comprising retired judges of the superior judiciaries of both the countries, was mandated to visit jails in Pakistan and India and recommend measures to ensure humanly treatment with the prisoners and the release of those who had completed their sentences.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar told the National Assembly on Thursday that at least five Pakistani students are currently imprisoned in different jails abroad on the charges of terrorism, rape and murder.
Responding to questions, Khar informed the National Assembly that according to information received from Pakistani missions, Ahmed Adnan Chaudhry was arrested on charges of attempted murder in the US; Adnan Mirza was arrested for possessing a gun and hatching a conspiracy against the US government; Abid Naseer is jailed on charges of plotting a terror attack during Easter in the UK; Aqeelur-Rehman was arrested for involvement in terrorist acts in Spain and Salman Dar has been imprisoned on charges of rape.
She added that extradition treaties with 35 countries were in process. Currently, Pakistan had treaties for exchange of offenders with Thailand, United Kingdom and Sri Lanka only.
Responding to a question, the state minister said that 5, 000 Pakistanis had been brought back from Libya. However, the operation was left incomplete owing to a lack of funds.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2011.