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Pakistan Consulate seeks release of 500 prisoners

DUBAI - The Pakistan Consulate in Dubai is seeking to secure an early release of at least 500 Pakistani prisoners currently languishing in UAE jails.

Consulate officials said on Tuesday they were working together with the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek release of prisoners held for various reasons.

At least 350 prisoners are being held in Dubai jails alone, with over 100 in Sharjah and 100 in jails of other emirates.

However, the exact number of Pakistanis detained is still unavailable. “The UAE authorities are expected to furnish the entire details soon,” said a consulate official who did not want to be named.

“The release procedures are based on the nature of the crime, jail term completed, as well as other reasons,” he said, adding that the consulate would also be filing mercy petitions to the UAE government on behalf of the prisoners. Each year, the UAE government pardons hundreds of prisoners during the holy month of Ramadan as a humanitarian gesture.

Last year, the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, granted an executive pardon to 808 Emirati and expatriate p r i s o n e r s d u r i n g Ramadan. He also ordered the settlement of prisoners’ debts worth Dh3.43 million.

The consulate official explained that some eligible prisoners were those who had already completed more than half of their jail terms.

“Others, such as those involved in murder crimes are awaiting payments of diya (blood money). In such cases, we’ll arrange for payments of funds raised through the community,” he explained.

The official hoped that the process would continue in future as well. The Pakistan Association in Dubai, too, has been carrying out similar charitable activities.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com