Three Pakistani children return home after release from Saudi jail

ISLAMABAD: Three Pakistani children held in Saudi prison for a period of over two years returned back to the country on Thursday.

Ayan, Mannan and Bushra were held by the Saudi authorities after their parents were found guilty in the drugs case. The family went to Saudi Arabia in 2016.

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfi Bukhari had taken notice of the matter and tasked managing director overseas Pakistanis and community welfare attache to the Kingdom for the release of the children.

Bushra (second from right) poses for a photograph with others. PHOTO: EXPRESS



The three children were confined in a welfare protection jail.

According to the documents available with The Express Tribune, 45% of Pakistanis imprisoned in Saudi jails were convicted or accused of drug smuggling, while 15% have theft charges against them, 12% have been charged or convicted of fraud and 8% are imprisoned for ‘indecency’.