Zubair Qureshi
Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) an NGO working for the rights, welfare of prisoners has welcomed repatriation of 44 Pakistani prisoners from Sri Lankan jails and hoped they will now serve their remaining sentences at home where their families will be able to visit them.
In a statement the JPP held it is the first repatriation in seven years under the bilateral prisoner transfer agreement (PTA) signed by the two countries in 2004.
“We commend the efforts of the Ministry of Interior, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, and the Pakistani High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Muhammad Saad Khattak for their commitment and dedication to protect the best interests of overseas Pakistanis in foreign jails,” further said the statement.
According to the timeline, on August 3, 2002 transfer of offenders Ordinance, 2002 was issued, allowing repatriation of prisoners whose sentences exceed six months of imprisonment. Then on January 12, 2004, Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed bilateral prisoner transfer agreement.
Later, on August 12, 2012 – 20 Pakistani prisoners including two women shifted to Pakistan to serve their remaining sentences. Then on September 2, 2013 some 72 Pakistani prisoners repatriated from Sri Lanka and Thailand.
On March 16, 2015 Pakistan suspended prisoner transfer treaties with other countries and later on Nov 17, 2017 Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled the local laws applied to convicts transferred to Pakistan
In the light of the SC’s ruling on June 6, 2018 Supreme Court directed the government to speed up the process of repatriation of Pakistani prisoners from Sri Lanka and other countries
On July 11 2018 the Sri Lankan President announced lifting 42-year moratorium on capital punishment for drug offences
After the president’s announcement, Feb 20 2019 Supreme Court of Pakistan directed the government to restore prisoners transfer agreements
On Nov 20 2019, The National Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development decided to discuss prisoner transfer agreements in det-
ail
The repatriation is a result of rigorous diplomatic engagement with the friendly nation. Pakistanis imprisoned abroad can be repatriated through bilateral agreements to transfer prisoners, allowing them to serve their remaining sentences closer to their families.
