The Senate was informed on Tuesday that reports of 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims going missing in Iraq were false and misleading.
During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, officials clarified that the claims were exaggerated and lacked evidence.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, who chaired the meeting, was briefed by Senator Raja Nasir Abbas. Abbas said he personally met the Iraqi Prime Minister, who called the reports baseless. He also spoke with Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, who confirmed the same.
“This was a mistake,” Senator Abbas stated. “There is no truth to the claim that thousands of pilgrims have gone missing.”
According to the Ministry of Interior, only 27 Pakistanis are currently detained in Iraq. Out of 81 total arrests, 30 are facing trial.
The Senate committee also discussed issues faced by Pakistani travelers abroad. Senator Abbas raised concerns that Pakistani passports are being seized at some international airports, including in Iraq.
He called the treatment insulting and urged the government to raise the matter diplomatically. “Even Afghan citizens do not face this,” he added.
Officials from the Ministry of Interior responded by assuring the Senate that the issue would be taken up with the relevant authorities.
The committee also reviewed the situation of Pakistani prisoners overseas. As per official data, 21,647 Pakistanis are currently in jails across the world. Of these, over 13,000 are under trial and more than 8,000 have been convicted.
New PTI Senator Faisal Javed also attended the session.
The Senate committee stressed the need for better diplomatic support to protect the rights of Pakistanis abroad.
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