Torture on Pakistani prisoners in Saudi jail: Senate body asks foreign office to summon envoy

Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Saturday took serious note of inhuman torture on three Pakistani prisoners in Saudi jails, despite paying Rs 4 million blood money in a murder case, with clear directives to the ministry of foreign affairs to immediately summon Saudi envoy for explanation.
The committee, which met here with Senator Talha Mehmood in the chair, remarked that if US national Raymond Davis, who was involved in killing two innocent Pakistanis could be released after paying Diyat, how could the three Pakistanis be punished by Saudi government.
"The way Raymond Davis was taken out of Pakistan was just embarrassing for the entire nation. What they (Saudis) are doing with us...do they just want to behead them, which is not acceptable to us at all costs," he said. However, he did not elaborate who were behind the release of US double murderer Raymond Davis, who was reportedly released after intervention by Saudi authorities.
The panel, however, asked the foreign ministry to use diplomatic channels as well as adopt legal way for early release of three Pakistanis who were handed down death sentence on March 29 by Saudi government in spite of paying Diyat amount. The committee further directed the ministry to summon Saudi envoy to ensure that the three Pakistanis are not beheaded.
Earlier, the committee was provided with the details and receipts of the Diyat amount, paid by families of three accused, who also stated that the matter was settled after paying the Rs 4 million blood money but instead Chief Justice of Saudi Supreme Court during his visit to jail, where the three were being languishing since 1999 that the three would be beheaded.
Senator Abdul Raziq said that the three Pakistanis namely Rahmul Wahab of Charsada, Abdul Rehman Mohammad Yousuf of Swat and Bashir Ghulam of Kohat were fabricated in a fake murder case actually committed by another local Saudi national while using influence.
The chairman of the committee remarked that strong protest would be launched in front of Saudi Embassy if the Pakistanis were beheaded, adding that it would be a law of the jungle if the accused were beheaded. A sub-committee was also constituted to look into the matter on regular basis. The committee also expressed displeasure over the delay demonstrated by foreign affairs ministry in the case, saying it should have handled the case with responsibility for early release of three Pakistanis.
Hajji Adeel said that the ministry should identify the concerned officials, who demonstrated carelessness to plead the case with Saudi authorities. The committee also asked the ministry to fix responsibility on the officials who exhibited lack of responsibility in the matter, besides seeking details of total number of Pakistanis, currently languishing in Saudi prisons.
Additional secretary foreign affairs Muhammad Aslam informed the panel that Pakistan's voice counsellor in Saudi Arabia, Nasrullah Khan had visited the three Pakistanis in the prison, adding that the Saudi government has sought attested and authentic copies of the all relevant documents along with receipts of the blood money. He said that the relatives of the prisoners have not submitted the documents to the ministry yet.
Later, briefing media persons, chairman of the committee said that the government should ask Saudi authorities for release of the three Pakistanis. The Saudi government, he said, should also know that it would create hatred among Pakistani people if the three were beheaded. To a question, he said that if it felt necessary the committee members would also visit Saudi Arabia for their release.
The panel also expressed grave concern over target killings in Karachi, as a committee member Senator Abdul Raziq pointed out that more people were killed in Karachi than US drone attacks in tribal areas. The committee directed interior ministry to submit a report on the last two years outgoing and incoming passengers at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, who visit the country for a single day or two mostly from Nigeria and South African countries. Earlier, Hajji Adeel claimed that some people of Pakistani origin from Nigeria and South Africa visit Karachi for a day or two then left and the practice is still continue for the last three years.