Pakistan fails to save its citizens from hanging in Saudi Arabia, thousands languishing, facing inhuman conditions in jails: Investigative report
Many Pakistanis are imprisoned for minor offences and could be released after paying a fine.
New Delhi: Among the foreign nationals arrested and sentenced in Saudi Arabia, Pakistanis form the largest number. Senior Pakistani journalist Zahid Gishkori has revealed the dire situation of Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia in a video report. Zahid stated that over the past 10 years, Pakistanis have topped the list in criminal cases in Saudi Arabia. Most lawsuits have been filed against Pakistanis, and they have received more death sentences than citizens of other countries.
Executions Carried Out For Murder And Other Serious Offences
Zahid says that since 2014, that is, in the last 11 years, 170 Pakistani citizens have been executed in Saudi Arabia. These executions were carried out for murder and other serious offences. Zahid collected this data from the Saudi government and some NGOs. Expressing concern over this, Zahid appealed to the Pakistani government to pay attention to this matter.
Thousands of Pakistanis Imprisoned
Zahid said that even on Wednesday, 10 December, a Pakistani was executed in Saudi Arabia. This shows that the legal noose is continuously tightening around Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia. Zahid says that 2024 was particularly bad for Pakistanis, as 21 Pakistani prisoners were executed in various cases.
According to Zahid, in 2014, 12 Pakistanis were executed in Saudi Arabia. After that, 14 Pakistanis were executed in 2015, 5 Pakistanis in 2016, 13 Pakistanis in 2017, 18 Pakistanis in 2018, and one Pakistani in 2019. These sentences were given in different cases.
Three Sentenced This Year
In Saudi Arabia, three Pakistanis have been executed this year, 2025. Currently, more than seven thousand Pakistanis are imprisoned in Saudi Arabia. Of these, 28 have been sentenced to death, and legal proceedings are underway. Pakistani women are also among those incarcerated in Saudi prisons. Twenty-two Pakistani women are currently in Saudi jails, and two of them have also been sentenced to death.
Pakistani Government Not Assisting Pakistanis In Saudi Arabia
Zahid raised the question of why the Pakistani government and embassy have not been seen assisting Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia. The fact that Pakistanis are facing the highest number of executions in Saudi Arabia poses a major challenge for the Pakistani government. The Pakistani government is failing to protect its citizens. The government should especially assist those who are imprisoned for minor offences and could be released after paying a fine.
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