KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan on Tuesday said it had designated a special aircraft to bring home 320 nationals languishing in various jails across Malaysia, as part of an initiative undertaken by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The move will see them return on a chartered Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 777 flight on Wednesday, in time to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their families, a statement released by the Foreign Office said.
“There are more than 320 Pakistani nationals in Malaysian jails who have completed their sentence and were unable to be repatriated, as direct flights got suspended in the last week of February 2019, owing to the regional situation,” the statement read.
It added that a majority of the nationals had been imprisoned “due to expiry of visa or residence permits.”
“The program is an initiative by the Pakistani government which intends to hasten the process to send back their citizens, especially the prisoners who are unable to purchase their own ticket,” Dato’ Indera Kairul Dzaimee bin Daud, director of the Malaysian Immigration Department (MID) told Arab News.
He added that in order to facilitate the initiative, the Pakistani High Commission (HPC) in Kuala Lumpur and the MID were working closely together to expedite the process.
Meanwhile, the MID confirmed that there are more than 300 Pakistanis detained in immigration and detention centers across Malaysia whose travel expenses will be covered by the Pakistani government.
“All the Pakistani (prisoners) will be sent back via airplanes that are specially rented by the government of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the Malaysian immigration agency will oversee the safe repatriation of the prisoners from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
“The MID and HCP will always cooperate and ensure smooth handling of immigration matters between the two countries,” Bin Daud said.
In comments to the media last Thursday, Sayed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, said that information pertaining to the matter was made available to the Pakistani government, which prompted PM Khan to take immediate action and direct “the Bait-ul-Mal and Foreign Office to release $577,000 and $145,000 respectively” for the purpose.
Malaysia and Pakistan have enjoyed an amicable relationship for decades. However, the relationship and cooperation between the two Muslim-majority countries has further strengthened with the new government of Malaysia installed last year under Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Muhamad, and the high-profile visit by PM Khan to Malaysia in November last year.
Malaysia to release 320 Pakistani prisoners by 29 May
Malaysia to release 320 Pakistani prisoners by 29 May
- PM Khan orders designated flight to bring them back
- Several had been imprisoned due to expired visas and residency permits
Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media
- Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior member of ISKP, used to head its Al Azzam media outlet, says state media
- Azzam was arrested in May while attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, the head of Daesh regional affiliate ISKP’s media outlet, state media reported on Thursday citing intelligence sources.
The state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported that Azzam was a senior member of ISKP and hailed from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. As per the state media report, he is also a graduate of the University of Nangarhar where he studied Islamic jurisprudence.
Pakistan TV Digital reported Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and later became a prominent member of its leadership council.
“He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Pakistan TV Digital reported, citing intelligence sources.
“He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP’s Al Azzam media outlet.”
In November 2021, Washington listed Azzam as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT). The move bars American citizens from engaging in transactions with persons designated as SDGTs.
According to a report on the UN Security Council’s website, Azzam has played an “instrumental role” in spreading Daesh’s violent ideology, glorifying and justifying “terrorist acts.”
“Building on his former experience as an Afghan journalist, his activity as ISIL-K’s spokesperson has increased ISIL-K’s visibility and influence among its followers,” the report states.
The report further states Azzam claimed responsibility on behalf of Daesh for the suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members and injured 150 more.
The development takes place amid tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging militants use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
Tensions surged in October when Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in fierce border clashes, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers of the other side.
Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to take “decisive action” against militants it says operate from its soil. Afghanistan says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
