ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Lt. Gen. (r) Bilal Akbar, has said the sentences of 65 Pakistani prisoners had been waived on the direction of King Salman.
Earlier this month, Akbar said 49 Pakistani prisoners had been released from Saudi jails since the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that began on April 14 this year.
“Sentences of 65 persons, detained in Riyadh Jail, have been waived off on kind direction of The Custodian of two holy mosques, His Majesty, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud,” Akbar said in a tweet on Monday night.
Thanking Pakistani donors in early June, Akbar had said several cases of “Haq e Khas” had been resolved, referring to money paid in compensation on behalf of the prisoners.
“49 total released since beginning of Ramadan. 53 still unresolved,” he said in a tweet.
During Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement on the transfer of convicted prisoners. Last month, Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid told reporters 1,100 Pakistani prisoners were currently in Saudi jails.
In 2019, during a visit to Pakistan, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman promised to release 2,107 Pakistani prisoners from Saudi jails. After the announcement, according to Pakistani officials, more than 1,200 Pakistani were released.
