NA speaker seeks legal aid for Pakistanis in Malaysian prisons

Qaiser asks counterpart to ensure cases of imprisoned expats are addressed


APP March 17, 2019
Asad Qaiser. PHOTO: INP

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has asked his Malaysian counterpart to provide legal relief to Pakistani expatriates imprisoned in Malaysia.

In a letter written to House of Representatives of Malaysia Chairman Mohammad Arif Yusof, the NA speaker said that a large number of Pakistani expatriates were working in Malaysia. “Unfortunately, some of them are in prison owing to petty crimes and most of them are not able to obtain legal counsel to get their cases addressed,” it stated.

He acknowledged that the Pakistani diaspora in Malaysia formed the largest Pakistani expatriates' community in South East Asia, and they also made up the sixth largest group of foreign workers or nationals in Malaysia. He said it was unfortunate that a large number of these expatriates were imprisoned in Malaysia over petty offences.

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While referring to the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Malaysia, the speaker said that both countries needed to enhance bilateral cooperation and high-level coordination in all spheres. He said that there was an agreement between the two sides to promote high-level bilateral exchanges and to collaborate with each other at operational level.

Qaiser also extended his felicitation on the forthcoming visit of Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohammad as chief guest at the Pakistan Day parade on March 23.

He hoped that the journey of mutual cooperation in the field of education, defence, health and trade will continue.

Qaiser also expressed his resolve that being the custodian of the representative Houses, they would play their role in enhancing efforts at the government level to further bilateral ties. In this context the speaker said he intended to formulate a special parliamentary group in the National Assembly to foster coordination with its Malaysian counterpart, while hoping for a reciprocal gesture from his counterpart.

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