The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis has revealed that more than 21,000 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned in 61 countries worldwide. According to official records obtained by ProPakistani, the total number of Pakistanis imprisoned abroad stands at 21,406.
However, the report also notes that 14 Pakistani embassies have not submitted complete data, leaving some gaps in the overall statistics. This means the actual number of Pakistanis imprisoned could be higher.
Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Pakistanis imprisoned, with 10,423 individuals behind bars. The United Arab Emirates follows with 5,297 imprisoned Pakistanis. Turkey is third, with 1,437 Pakistanis imprisoned.
India has 738 Pakistanis imprisoned, while Oman, Malaysia, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and South Africa also report considerable numbers of imprisoned Pakistani nationals.
In the United States, 65 Pakistanis are imprisoned, including Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. The United Kingdom has 23 Pakistanis imprisoned, Australia 27, and Spain 42. Other countries with smaller numbers of imprisoned Pakistanis include Nepal, Bulgaria, Denmark, Bangladesh, Iran, and Iraq.
Some countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Ghana, Morocco, Myanmar, New Zealand, Rwanda, Senegal, and Singapore, reported no Pakistanis imprisoned. France has not shared its data due to local privacy laws.
The Ministry also highlighted that many Pakistanis imprisoned abroad, especially in Saudi Arabia, are detained because they cannot afford to pay fines. This financial issue is a key reason for their imprisonment.
This report underscores the challenges faced by Pakistanis living abroad. It also stresses the importance of diplomatic efforts to support those imprisoned overseas and improve their conditions.
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