Islamabad: Following the visit of Saudi Crown Prince to Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided details about the release of Pakistani prisoners from Saudi jails.
In a written response during the Senate’s Question Hour, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that a total of 7,208 Pakistani prisoners have been released from Saudi jails between 2019 and 2024, following the Crown Prince’s visit.
According to the ministry’s report, the release figures are as follows: 545 prisoners were freed in 2019, 892 in 2020, 916 in 2021, 1,331 in 2022, 1,394 in 2023, and 2,130 in 2024.
The ministry noted that it is difficult to accurately determine the exact number of prisoners pardoned and the distribution of those deported, given the constant influx of prisoners being released.
Furthermore, the ministry’s written response also highlighted that 23,456 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned in various countries, with the highest number detained in Gulf states. In Saudi Arabia, 12,156 Pakistanis are in prison, while the UAE holds 5,292, Greece has 811, and Qatar has 338 Pakistani detainees.