No passports misplacement incident at Pakistani Missions abroad reported: National Assembly informed

Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the National Assembly on Thursday that no incident of passports misplacement took place at Pakistan Missions abroad during the recent years. In a written reply to the house, he said that Ministry has asked all the Missions to check their record and submit a detailed report as so far 90 Missions have sent a nil report on the issue.
A total of 317 officials have been appointed in various categories and cadres in the ministry since March 2008. All out efforts have been made to observe the 5 percent quota fixed for Minorities in all these appointment, however, only eight officials from minorities were appointed.
As many as 936 ministry officials were posted abroad. According to the latest information, 257 destitute Pakistanis were provided air tickets out of Pakistani Community Welfare and Education Fund by different Pakistani Missions abroad including Serbia, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bangladesh, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, France, Los Angeles (USA), Bahrain, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, Ireland, Nepal, Thailand, Oman.
In a written reply, Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the house that to consider the possibility of re-opening of Consulates in Karachi and Mumbai, a team of our officers from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi visited Mumbai in May 2008 to look at the properties for our Consulate. However, no suitable property was available. India had also agreed to provide a plot of land in Mumbai for purchase by Pakistan where we can construct our building for the Consulate at a later date. However, despite assurances, the State Government of Maharashtra did not confirm the availability of the land. .
Unfortunately, the proposal of purchasing the plot has been rendered impractical as other constructions have come up in the vicinity of the plot promised by the Maharashtra authorities. Moreover, after the Mumbai Terror Attacks in 2008, the Indian side has suspended the composite dialogue process. To another question, Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the total number of Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails is 761 as of 1 January 2011(698 are Civilians, 45 Fishermen and 18 Missing Defence Personnel).
Pakistani prisoners in Indian jails are predominantly civil prisoners. Charges against them pertain to illegal/inadvertent border crossing, visa violations or over stay. Pakistani fishermen are arrested by Indian authorities for illegal fishing in Indian waters.
Responding to a query, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the total number of prisoners who have been deported during the last two years across USA is 190. At the time of arrest US Department of Homeland Security does not intimate the Embassy or concerned Consulates the reason of arrest and the place where the prisoner is detained, unless and until the investigation is completed and final orders of removal by the court are issued. We only come to know when US department of Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) approach us for issuance of Travel Document.
Prisoners who complete their sentences are repatriated to Pakistan at US expenses. It is a common practice that at the time of arrest our nationals sign the waiver of their right of consular access and US security agencies then do not inform the Embassy about the arrest. Members of our community are generally imprisoned in US jails for charges, related to overstay of visa duration, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, illegal arms possession and other minor felony.
Even after prosecution and sentencing the deportees choose to stay back in US and prefer to contest the removal orders rather than repatriation to Pakistan. Pakistani mission in Abu Dhabi has informed that at present 388 Pakistanis are in the jails of Abu Dhabi Emirate. However, during the latest visit only 172 prisoners appeared before the Community Welfare Attaché for interview. A statement showing the names of 172 Pakistani prisoners, in Abu Dhabi jails, Father's Name, addresses in Pakistan and charges levelled against them. Further, the Mission in Abu Dhabi is trying to obtain the details of the rest of the prisoners and will be communicated as soon as these are available to the Mission, he added.