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ISLAMABAD – The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was informed on Tuesday that reports claiming 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims had gone missing in Iraq were baseless and exaggerated.
Chairing the committee meeting, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada heard a detailed clarification from Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, who dismissed the alarming reports. “I personally met the Prime Minister of Iraq, who categorically denied the claims. I also spoke to Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, who confirmed that it was a misunderstanding,” Senator Abbas told the committee.
Officials from the Ministry of Interior further clarified the situation, stating that only 27 Pakistani nationals had been detained in Iraq. In total, 81 Pakistanis are facing legal issues in the country, with 30 currently undergoing trial.
Senator Abbas also voiced serious concerns over the confiscation of Pakistani passports at international airports, particularly in Iraq. “Such actions are highly disrespectful to Pakistani citizens,” he said, adding that this treatment is harsher than what is extended to nationals of other countries, including Afghanistan. He urged the government to take strong diplomatic action on the matter.
In response, Ministry of Interior officials assured the committee that the issue would be taken up through diplomatic channels to ensure the dignity of Pakistani travelers abroad is upheld.
The ministry also provided an update on the overall number of Pakistanis imprisoned overseas. According to the data, 21,647 Pakistani citizens are currently incarcerated in various countries. Of these, more than 13,000 are under trial, while over 8,000 have been convicted.
