ISLAMABAD: The Saudi authorities indicated on Thursday that the Pakistanis arrested in the kingdom on drug smuggling charges could be released if the government of Pakistan arrested the real culprits and handed them over to Saudi Arabia.

‘If the actual criminal/s are arrested and handed over to the authorities in Saudi Arabia, efforts will be made to secure a speedy release of the people arrested in the kingdom,’ a statement quoted Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri as having told a delegation comprising relatives of five of the arrested persons and parliamentarians from Karachi.

Eight Pakistani Umra pilgrims were arrested earlier this month for allegedly carrying four kilograms of heroin concealed in their shoes.

They deny involvement in drug trafficking and investigations in Pakistan suggest that they are innocent. Preliminary investigations indicate that the shoes were provided to the pilgrims, along with the Ahram, by their travel agent.

Ambassador Asseri told the delegation that due process of law would be followed in the probe being carried out by the Saudi Bureau of Investigation and the detainees would get a fair trial. There would be no injustice, he assured the delegation.

The Saudi ambassador has designated an officer to be in touch with the families of the arrested persons and keep them abreast of the progress in the case.

Earlier, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said the government was doing its utmost to get the five unfortunate people freed.

‘We are in touch with the ministry of interior to get the real culprits apprehended as quickly as possible,’ he said.

He said the Foreign Office had requested the Saudi ambassador in Islamabad and the relevant Saudi authorities through the Pakistani embassy in Jeddah to provide consular access to the detainees.