Businessman raises issue of Pakistani prisoners with Saudi Ambassador

A Manchester based property businessman has raised the plight of Pakistani prisoners with the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the UK.

Nabeel Mussarat of Bricks to Riches spoke with Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at a dinner.

Nabeel also spoke about unlawful imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Nabeel said: “When Imran Khan was in power he met with the Saudi leader and requested that prisoners from Pakistan should go back to their families in Pakistan. Sadly, the prisoners have not been released.”

Speaking in January, Nabeel asked the ambassador if he had any influence over the issue and if anything could be done.

Thousands of Pakistani workers have been imprisoned in Middle Eastern jails and most are impoverished labourers lacking legal assistance.

It came as it was announced last month that a total of 7,208 Pakistani prisoners have been released from Saudi prisons between 2019 and 2024, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

The Dawn News reports the figure was released following a question from Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur over the announcement made for the release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners in Saudi jails during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan in 2019 when the PTI was in power.