Pakistani Federal Minister for Communication Abdul Aleem Khan has committed to covering the repatriation expenses for Pakistani prisoners in Sri Lankan jails, as announced in an official statement on Friday. This funding aims to eliminate a significant barrier, allowing these prisoners to return home.
During a meeting in May between the Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Admiral (r) Ravindra Chandra, and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan and Sri Lanka agreed to take immediate measures to ensure the return of 43 prisoners. Financial issues, however, had delayed their release.
“Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has announced to bear all expenses for the repatriation of Pakistani prisoners stranded in Sri Lanka for years,” the interior ministry stated. “These prisoners will now be able to return home soon after completing the necessary procedures.”
The interior minister expressed gratitude to Khan for his involvement, praising his gesture as a “breath of fresh air for the prisoners and their families.”
According to the Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), approximately 14,000 Pakistani citizens are imprisoned worldwide. JPP, a local advocacy group, represents vulnerable Pakistani prisoners both domestically and internationally.