ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Foreign Office, on Thursday, released a statement lauding Saudi Arabia’s announcement to initiate indictment proceedings against those responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

According to the statement, “Pakistan notes with appreciation the announcement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to initiate the process of indictment of those responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.”

The Saudi government on Thursday called for the death penalty against five people accused of murdering the journalist inside the Kingdom’s Istanbul consulate on October 2. The journalist, who was a Washington Post contributor, was killed by lethal injection after a struggle, and his body was dismembered and taken out of the building, Shalaan Al-Shalaan, deputy public prosecutor and spokesman, told reporters in Riyadh on Thursday.

Khashoggi’s body parts were then handed over to a local Turkish agent outside the consulate grounds, the spokesman said as he outlined the public prosecutor’s findings in the investigation.

He added that a sketch of the agent has been prepared and will be handed over to the Turkish authorities.

Islamabad lauded the efforts being made by Riyadh, as have been mutually reaffirmed by both Saudi Arabia and Turkey. “Commencement of this process demonstrates the resolve and commitment of the Saudi authorities to hold the culprits and their associates to account,” said the FO statement.