Saudi Arabia beheads seventh Pakistani in one month

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

RIYADH: A man convicted of smuggling heroin became Thursday the seventh Pakistani beheaded over the past month in Saudi Arabia for drug trafficking.

The execution of Niyaz Mohammed Ghulam Mohammed was carried out in Riyadh after he was “tried and found guilty of attempting to smuggle a large amount of heroin,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

“Pakistani Smuggler Niaz Mohammad Ghulam Mohammad was executed in Kharj Governorate, Riyadh Region, today because he tried to smuggle a large quantity of heroin inside his intestines into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the Saudi Ministry of Interior said in a statement.

The latest case brings to 67 the number of foreigners and Saudis executed for crimes this year, despite international concerns.

The Saudi interior ministry says the government is battling narcotics “because of their great harm to individuals and society.”

Also read: UN asks Saudi Arabia to impose moratorium on death penalty

In September, an independent expert working on behalf of the United Nations called for an immediate moratorium on the death penalty in Saudi Arabia.

Rape, murder, apostasy and armed robbery are also punishable by death under the kingdom’s strict Sharia laws.

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Futurewizard

Nov 13, 2014 08:17pm

Wow no comment?

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mian

Nov 13, 2014 08:17pm

Is our Government and concerned authorities like ANF sleeping????These heinous crimes are preventable if strict measures are taken at home and not to allow Afghans use our green passports.Mafia members who are sending these people with heroine should be executed as well.it is sad and shameful at the same time.

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raja hindustani

Nov 13, 2014 08:18pm

Somebody need to tell Saudis to become civilized now. Enough of brutality...!!!

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Sandip Bhattacharya

Nov 13, 2014 08:25pm

Way to go Pakistan!

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Ali

Nov 13, 2014 08:28pm

Good work done we don't want drug smugglers back.

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Hassan

Nov 13, 2014 08:28pm

In Saudi Arabia laws are for poor people only, The faces behind the smuggling networks are never punished. " Saudi laws are like spiders' webs, and will, like them, only entangle and hold the poor and weak, while the rich and powerful will easily break through them.... "

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Futurewizard

Nov 13, 2014 08:30pm

@raja hindustani I think law of the land should be followed

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ikarim_1999@yahoo.com

Nov 13, 2014 08:33pm

Alas! People of pakistan have no Justice worldwide. SA would think several times before 'beheading' an American or British citizen. I just WISH that a visionary and Bold leadership comes in place in pakistan that vibrates the nationalism and put the country on FAST Pace of economic and education revival and RESPECT AROUND THE Globe. Nobody should simply behead within PAK or outside of PAK people

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Rishi

Nov 13, 2014 08:39pm

Does Human Rights Activists or Amnesty International have a presence there? If not, they have no right to comment about "human rights violations" elsewhere in the world.

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Nooruddin

Nov 13, 2014 08:40pm

@Ali sick

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Rakaposhi

Nov 13, 2014 08:44pm

Where is Asma Jahangir? Oh she is busy trashing Imran Khan.

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muzamil

Nov 13, 2014 08:44pm

Sometimes I like their laws.

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Talha

Nov 13, 2014 08:44pm

Criminals deserve punishment.

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Meet

Nov 13, 2014 08:46pm

What is pak government doing, crying and shouting about Kashmiris when you can't even save your innocent people, no fair trial, no chance of repenting, worst the way they are executed, are we living in a civilized world, is it acting as a deterrent, yet Pakistani and America says Saudis are their best friend, hypocrisy

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muhammad

Nov 13, 2014 08:47pm

Send all 8000 plus prisoners who are on the roll of death penalty to Saudi Arabia for swift execution and on the same time our Government will come clear before the so-called human rights organizations and Western countries who are opposing their death penalty

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born pakistani

Nov 13, 2014 08:53pm

What happens to saudi guys who used them?why they don't punish them too

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Syed Ahmed

Nov 13, 2014 08:57pm

@Rishi: Great, Excellent, Superb.

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ahmed

Nov 13, 2014 08:58pm

Why doesnt Pakistan take steps to make sure the Saudis pay a price for this outrage?

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Karachiwally

Nov 13, 2014 09:02pm

Great job my fellow countrymen. Soon doors of Saudi will also be closed for Pakistanis. No hope for our country, it has become most corrupt and greedy country.

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Waseem

Nov 13, 2014 09:03pm

They are those who have got Pakistani passports on fake documents. Majority of them are foreigners, mainly Afghans. CIA and others need to work hard on corruption in our institutions.

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Somroo

Nov 13, 2014 09:06pm

Saudia... friend of west is above all rules. Why moratorium on death penalty for Pakistan, when we have more hardened criminals on death row???

Recommend 0

Nov 13, 2014 09:07pm

What about crimes by Royal criminals.

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Rajab Ali

Nov 13, 2014 09:10pm

What so many agencies are doing at our airports!

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sameer

Nov 13, 2014 09:10pm

R they really guilty or sudi is on the mission of finishing Pakistani from their land.

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Ali Ahmed

Nov 13, 2014 09:19pm

Most of these guys have no legal aid provided to them and they plead guilty because of the torture that Saudi police carry out on them. This is one more example of incompetent leadership of Pakistan where they refuse to take a stand for their own. I ask Pakistani Government this question that would they dare to put a single Saudi in jail if they commit a crime on Pakistan soil? I'll be surprised if anyone says "Yes".

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Khan

Nov 13, 2014 09:19pm

The Pakistani consular staff needs to stick up for there people around the world.

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Mohammad Waseem

Nov 13, 2014 09:21pm

Saudi Arabia should be taught a lesson to either come to 21st century or stay away form the civilized world. Terrorism, beheading and intolerance starts and ends there.

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Md Imran

Nov 13, 2014 09:24pm

They are leaders of ummah. And these are the correct steps to stop immoral activities in the society.

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AshwinMS

Nov 13, 2014 09:31pm

@Futurewizard Saudi Arabia's law is the problem.They're still following a legal system from centuries ago.And it is filled with inhuman and barbaric punishments.

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JackDomm

Nov 13, 2014 09:44pm

Amnesty International can only pressurise poor countries like Pakistan to suspend Death Penalty while Richer Countries are exempted. Hypocrisy at Best!

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gerry d'cunha

Nov 13, 2014 09:45pm

such law should be implemented in pakistan, then only can we get a new pakistan

Recommend 0

Nov 13, 2014 09:54pm

Prevention is better than cure, and punishing criminal has never been inhumane in any civilization. However, the question is if justice was served through a fair trial or not? Honestly speaking, people commenting agint it doesn't know it either. The news also states, "The latest case brings to 67 the number of foreigners and Saudis executed for crimes this year, despite international concerns" that shows no single nationality is targeted there. Everything coming from West is not a 'gold standard', better we follow them only in their good deeds like fairness, hard work, good governance etc.

Recommend 0

Nov 13, 2014 09:57pm

saudis come to pakistan and hunt endangered birds and go back to saudi to behead pakistanis. people who say that law of the land are being followed, does that mean a pakistani can hunt endangered birds? is this the law of the land?

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SRajan

Nov 13, 2014 10:00pm

One the oil dries out, no body (entire world) would not care about these brutal Saudis. Shame on you Saudis.

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Blister

Nov 13, 2014 10:03pm

If they were applying the laws uniformly, arab and non-arab alike, hardly any of their rulers will be left unharmed or alive.

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Qahaar

Nov 13, 2014 10:06pm

And they say Afghans are the drug smugglers.

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Harmony

Nov 13, 2014 10:08pm

@Meet - Kashmir on your mind even here. Guilty concious!

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Dr. Sehar Khan

Nov 13, 2014 10:21pm

Any protest against Saudi gov.... No Way!!! Big brother is cleaning the mess.

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Whiskey Khan

Nov 13, 2014 10:37pm

Just how many lives will the Saudis waste before realizing that maybe just beheading is not the solution for it, The Saudis need to ask themselves, Is this working, if not then Find a more civilized way to curb the traffic, For these Saudis Killing seems to be the solution for all crime.

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Danish Haider

Nov 13, 2014 10:38pm

Saudi's are missing very important point. It is obvious that there huge demand of drugs in Kingdom and they offer above market price as well that is why people put their lives at risk. Their Police seems failed to cut the demand. Only a handful are caught and face beheading. In KSA law is for poor only that I learnt in my more than 6 year stay in KSA. There is no punishment for locals actively involved in distribution, sale and use of drugs.

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Ali Asghar Jaffery

Nov 13, 2014 10:42pm

@ahmed He committed a crime and paid for it. What can Pakistan do about it??

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Nazir

Nov 13, 2014 10:54pm

Nobody knows what's going on inside Saudi Arabia if they are executing innocents there. A victim doesn't have access for fair trial. Yet champions of Human Rights are silent.

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pathanoo

Nov 13, 2014 10:54pm

Human Life is priceless and no one has a right to take it unless ABSOLUTELY - LEGALLY AND MORALLY JUSTIFIED. The narcotic pushers are killing people. And, so I believe their death penalty is justified. We may quibble about the method of death penalty but this punishment is the only way to stop these pushers from killing people. I SUPPORT IT.

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Warrior Bin Qasim

Nov 13, 2014 11:14pm

These Afghans on Pakistani passports must be punished. Thank you Saudi Arabia!!!

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Mr Universe

Nov 13, 2014 11:30pm

@Md Imran I don't think it is the right step. Poor Pakistanis were smuggling the drugs for oil rich people who have enough money to attract another poor smuggler who could meet with the same fate. If Saudi govt behead at least one out of those rich Saudi drug buyers then only the so called immoral activity will be stopped.

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khan

Nov 13, 2014 11:32pm

Saudi Arabia so sure about there Justice system lets foreign observer watch all hearing for two months

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A shah

Nov 13, 2014 11:51pm

At this rate there won't be any pakistanis left!

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joe

Nov 13, 2014 11:52pm

@pathanoo support same punishment for burning pregnant woman and her husband alive .

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FDI

Nov 14, 2014 12:27am

@Karachiwally perfect... I appreciate your view..at least there is one who knows the truth...

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Fizza

Nov 14, 2014 12:29am

@Md Imran Brother, they are ANYTHING but leaders of Ummah. Please do some research and inquiry about the lawmakers and the unjust among the society. Just because House of Allah is there does not make the whole nation and their residents pure & holy.

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Sana

Nov 14, 2014 12:55am

I disagree with Saudi Arabia.Foreigners comes under international law who know whether these people who have been beheaded are actually involved in drugs.

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Pardeep

Nov 14, 2014 01:03am

Pakistani kab sudhary ga?

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saad

Nov 14, 2014 01:05am

I wish Pakistan also start punishing culprits ......... years of worst terrorism and we only hanged a single monster that too in Musharraf assassination case .... we need lot more hanging with swift and clear justice. We can ill afford any more complacency

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Hussain from Delhi

Nov 14, 2014 01:09am

Sharia should be strictly implemented in Pakistan as well.

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Anthony

Nov 14, 2014 01:47am

I request the UN to back off. They have no brains what so ever to deal with people in the East. The Saudi regime knows its society and their issues. It knows how to deal with these thugs. Let them do what they do best. UN should look into solving other issues like poverty , clean water for drinking and having conferences all over the world. Officers of the UN visit different locations, they need to show some productivity and activity/

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asif

Nov 14, 2014 02:03am

@Meet innocent.... how do you know? . Not in favour of beheading but drug dealers destroys families not only the addict. They deserve worse punishment.

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Sudhakar

Nov 14, 2014 02:21am

Looks like Saudis are on a roll here.

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NASR

Nov 14, 2014 02:33am

@mian Why the Nawaz Government will even think to raise this issue? After all he has a lot in personal stakes in Saudi Arabia

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ejaz

Nov 14, 2014 02:35am

@saad; I agreed with you. I am a Pakistani and its really hurts to see people get executed, mostly poor people. Yes, first of all it is Pakistan's duty / responsibility to stop these people before they board a plane. I don't know how they get cleared from screening in Pakistan.

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Blunt D Kasuri

Nov 14, 2014 03:16am

@Hassan o is it so? do you have any evidence or you believe in hovering rumors like unlettered people? They beheaded one Saudi as well last week too.

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Jamila khatoon

Nov 14, 2014 04:02am

So much so for belonging to Umma!! Are these our muslim brothers?? Even non muslim nations treat us better and with dignity. Why are we so twisted that we look towards SA as our big brother who beheads our people and denounce West with all kinds of derogatory names when they give us money and treat us fair and square?? What is wrong with us?

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Puritan

Nov 14, 2014 04:13am

How's the Saudis different from ISIS? Both of them kill, maim people in the name of religion. & their victims are mostly Muslims. They also victimize the hapless and exploit noon Muslims and other minority groups like Shia and Ahmedis. Only petty criminals get beheaded while the masterminds and the organizers go Scot free.

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Winnerman

Nov 14, 2014 04:16am

@Futurewizard Those laws are flawed.

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Raju

Nov 14, 2014 04:53am

Saudi Arabia is a Stone Aged country, everything they do is OK in Islam and everything the other country men do is against Islam and is considered crime. What a hypocrite country?

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kumar

Nov 14, 2014 06:05am

@Ali Ahmed Few years back Saudi prince illegally poached many birds, in thousands. Nothing happened to him. Beggars have no right or respect.

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A Kashifi

Nov 14, 2014 06:45am

Saudi and ISIS operate exactly the same way. As for those chiming in they deserve to be punished. Open you blinkers for a minute. Pakistan being poor and and desperate is direct result of Saudi based Islam inflitration. They have sponsored terrorism for decades to ruin Karachi as business hub for Asia and M.E. to replace it with their cronies in Gulf.

Recommend 0

Nov 14, 2014 06:48am

@raja hindustani really ! What do you say about the fake encounters in Kashmir .are they friendly measures and humane.

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Bahadur

Nov 14, 2014 07:23am

A couple of weeks back five Tamilian fishermen were sentenced to death in Sri Lanka on charges of smuggling drugs in to their country. But, India made sure they returned back to India safe and face trial in India. A phone call from Modi to President Rajapaxe made all the difference. It takes a strong leader and strong diplomacy for such achievements. Well, in your case, You can't do diplomacy with a Kingdom on who's alms you run your country.

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Anwar kamal

Nov 14, 2014 09:33am

Why Pakistan govt.silent when the citizens are beheaded ?

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Bahadur

Nov 14, 2014 01:46pm

Had Modi been PM, even Sarabjith Singh would have come back to India alive. Modi knows the tricks of the trade.

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sal s

Nov 14, 2014 09:52pm

Saudis are so savage and backwards

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Vaibhav Bhatt

Nov 16, 2014 12:44pm

@ejaz They get clearance because most of the time they are innocent pakistanis, who are framed by contractors of Islam ARABS, because of lack of Jurisdictions they are sentenced to death ...

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@expat

Nov 16, 2014 05:15pm

The ANF officials at the airport of departure of all of these smugglers should be considered as accomplices and tried and punished and purged for their lapses.

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