Rising numbers: Panel voices concern over expat executions
Asks the Foreign Office to ensure the right to fair trial to all Pakistanis facing legal proceedings overseas
The due course of law must be followed before any Pakistani citizen is convicted anywhere in the world, the committee noted. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on Monday voiced serious concerns over the increasing number of executions of Pakistanis in foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia.
In its meeting held at Parliament House, the committee recommended Foreign Office to ensure the right to fair trial to all Pakistani citizens facing legal proceedings in overseas courts of law.
According to the official handout, the panel headed by Awais Leghari, asked the foreign ministry to provide assistance to under-trial Pakistanis in finding lawyers, translators and guidance on foreign legal systems.
The due course of law must be followed before any Pakistani citizen is convicted anywhere in the world, the committee noted.
Awais Leghari called it a ‘matter of serious concern’ that Pakistani labourers abroad were unable to afford defence lawyers in case of their trial in a court of law. He demanded that destitute Pakistanis be provided all available support in times of need in foreign countries.
Read: In the last six months, Pakistan has executed more people than Saudi Arabia
The Foreign Office informed the committee that around 8,500 Pakistanis were detained in overseas prisons and most of them were charged with drug-related crimes. Chairman Leghari desired that Foreign Office improve its coordination with relevant departments to stop drug peddling at Pakistan’s airports. “Customs, Anti-Narcotics Force, IMPASS [Directorate General of Immigration and Passport] should be held accountable if a person passes through our airports with drugs in his possession,” he said.
The committee expressed satisfaction over current pace of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and the increased security cooperation between two countries. The Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz briefed in detail about the ongoing reconciliation process between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The panel strongly suggested that civilian and military leadership of Pakistan under the command of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif keep very close contact with their Afghan counterparts to prevent a situation where mistrust reemerges between two nations.
Following an intense debate on present peace initiative between two countries, the committee reiterated that the hard-earned trust between Afghanistan and Pakistan should be safeguarded with utmost care.
Aziz assured the committee that current Afghan would bear fruit soon. The committee unequivocally condemned the attack at Afghan Parliament on Monday morning in strongest possible terms. The committee members also strongly reacted to India’s acceptance of its role in breaking up Pakistan in 1971.
The committee recommended raising the issue at international forums in order to expose the anti-peace policy of India.
It was also noted that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s stance regarding peace in South Asia has been steady and stable in spite of India’s erratic, irresponsible and immature statements coming from an office as high as of prime minister of India.
The chairman and other committee members observed that there was little interaction between the incoming parliamentary delegates and the committee. He strongly recommended that Pakistani diplomats should suggest incoming delegates to meet Foreign Affairs Committees of both Houses when they visit Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2015.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on Monday voiced serious concerns over the increasing number of executions of Pakistanis in foreign countries, including Saudi Arabia.
In its meeting held at Parliament House, the committee recommended Foreign Office to ensure the right to fair trial to all Pakistani citizens facing legal proceedings in overseas courts of law.
According to the official handout, the panel headed by Awais Leghari, asked the foreign ministry to provide assistance to under-trial Pakistanis in finding lawyers, translators and guidance on foreign legal systems.
The due course of law must be followed before any Pakistani citizen is convicted anywhere in the world, the committee noted.
Awais Leghari called it a ‘matter of serious concern’ that Pakistani labourers abroad were unable to afford defence lawyers in case of their trial in a court of law. He demanded that destitute Pakistanis be provided all available support in times of need in foreign countries.
Read: In the last six months, Pakistan has executed more people than Saudi Arabia
The Foreign Office informed the committee that around 8,500 Pakistanis were detained in overseas prisons and most of them were charged with drug-related crimes. Chairman Leghari desired that Foreign Office improve its coordination with relevant departments to stop drug peddling at Pakistan’s airports. “Customs, Anti-Narcotics Force, IMPASS [Directorate General of Immigration and Passport] should be held accountable if a person passes through our airports with drugs in his possession,” he said.
The committee expressed satisfaction over current pace of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and the increased security cooperation between two countries. The Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz briefed in detail about the ongoing reconciliation process between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The panel strongly suggested that civilian and military leadership of Pakistan under the command of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif keep very close contact with their Afghan counterparts to prevent a situation where mistrust reemerges between two nations.
Following an intense debate on present peace initiative between two countries, the committee reiterated that the hard-earned trust between Afghanistan and Pakistan should be safeguarded with utmost care.
Aziz assured the committee that current Afghan would bear fruit soon. The committee unequivocally condemned the attack at Afghan Parliament on Monday morning in strongest possible terms. The committee members also strongly reacted to India’s acceptance of its role in breaking up Pakistan in 1971.
The committee recommended raising the issue at international forums in order to expose the anti-peace policy of India.
It was also noted that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s stance regarding peace in South Asia has been steady and stable in spite of India’s erratic, irresponsible and immature statements coming from an office as high as of prime minister of India.
The chairman and other committee members observed that there was little interaction between the incoming parliamentary delegates and the committee. He strongly recommended that Pakistani diplomats should suggest incoming delegates to meet Foreign Affairs Committees of both Houses when they visit Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2015.