Saudi crown prince orders release of over 2,000 Pakistani prisoners

E-Paper | October 06, 2026

Saudi crown prince orders release of over 2,000 Pakistani prisoners

Dawn.com Published February 18, 2019

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman laughs as Prime Minister Imran Khan makes a speech at PM House on Sunday night. ─ Photo courtesy Arab News Twitter

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The morning after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman promised to deliver "whatever we can do" for Pakistanis living in the kingdom, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced that MBS had ordered the immediate release of over 2,000 Pakistani prisoners in Saudi jails.

Prime Minister Imran Khan at a ceremony held to welcome the crown prince at PM House on Sunday night had made a "special request" to MBS to look into the hardships of Pakistani labourers working in the kingdom, and to "look upon them as your own people".

"There are some 3,000 [Pakistani] prisoners there and we just would like you to bear in mind that they are poor people who have left their families behind," Khan had said.

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MBS had responded by assuring the premier to consider him Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammad had continued: "We cannot say no to Pakistan ... whatever we can do, we will deliver that."

Prime Minister Khan in a tweet today said that the crown prince had "won the hearts of the people of Pakistan when he said, 'Consider me Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia' in response to my asking him to treat the 2.5 million Pakistanis working in KSA as his own."

Fawad Chaudhry in a tweet today said: "As a sequel to Prime Minister of Pakistan's request, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of KSA Mohammad Bin Salman has ordered the immediate release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners from Saudi Jails."

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also noted that the crown prince had "graciously agreed" to free the Pakistani prisoners "with immediate effect".

"Cases of the remaining will be reviewed," he announced.

The foreign minister said the people of Pakistan thanked the crown prince for "responding immediately" to the premier's request.

This was Prince Mohammad's first state visit since becoming crown prince. Saudi Arabia has signed agreements worth $21 billion with Pakistan in various fields, including cooperation in power production, establishment of an oil refinery and petrochemical plant, promotion of sports and technical assistance in the standardisation sector.

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Faraz

Feb 18, 2019 12:05pm

yeah, he won the thousands people heart of pakistan long live Pak Saudi Relation

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SkyHawk

Feb 18, 2019 12:06pm

Very good news. We love them both (PM Khan and MBS).

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Gordon D. Walker

Feb 18, 2019 12:09pm

Touching moments between good friends... Gordon D. Walker Canada

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Pak Army

Feb 18, 2019 12:13pm

Thanks to Saudi crown prince ,as well Prime minister.We will hope that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will full their commitments

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Pro Bono Publico

Feb 18, 2019 12:14pm

Excellent gesture by MBS. We as a nation are grateful to him for his prompt and kind action.

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Leo

Feb 18, 2019 12:15pm

Please make Arabic compulsory so that the brethren can have better understanding.

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Tariq Rashid

Feb 18, 2019 12:17pm

We wish he could have stayed longer in Pakistan.. MBS is charismatic leader Saudi Arabia have.. All the very best for the prosperous future of Saudi Arabia under the able leadership of Crown Prince MBS..

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Waqas

Feb 18, 2019 12:18pm

Imran khan is doing wonders for Pakistan ! Thank your your royal highness MBS ! WIll never forget your generosity.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Feb 18, 2019 12:19pm

This is a good gesture of friendship and credit goes to PM Imran Khan for requesting MBP to do something about the Pakistani prisoners who are held in Saudi jails. This shows that PM cares about poor people and is a sincere and soft hearted person - no other PM has done such things for poor people. This is one of many changes that we will see in near future. (ACP - Garib Awam ki Awaz).

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Aftab

Feb 18, 2019 12:28pm

Imagine the amount of happiness and relief this brings to those prisoners and their families. Salute to IK for speaking on their behalf and MBS for taking the issue up immediately and issuing the release orders. Long live Pak-Saudi friendship.

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Aaron

Feb 18, 2019 12:29pm

releasing people? held for what reasons?.. 2000 people is sizeable numbers.

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Jalil Yousaf

Feb 18, 2019 12:32pm

Good. But these criminals must be punished back in Pakistan for their actions.

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Zahid

Feb 18, 2019 12:33pm

Nation is grateful to his highness Prince Salman for the gesture.

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lkhan

Feb 18, 2019 12:34pm

Great gestures of empathy for the voiceless... Thank you Imran Khan for your caring ways for the citizens of Pakistan, and thank you Crown Prince for your generosity towards our people.

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Sha b

Feb 18, 2019 12:34pm

Good news for poor prisoners.

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umar

Feb 18, 2019 12:35pm

Brave request by IK. I hope MBS can stays in power for long as Pakistan is in need of a rich ally. If Pakistan can get something akin to a Marshall plan given to Germany by the US post World War 2 , Pakistan can hope to enter the middle income country category in the next 10 to 15 years,

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Mansur Ul Haque

Feb 18, 2019 12:41pm

Long live Pak. Saudia friendship. Believe signing of such hefty amount of MOU is first step towards making Pak Saudia relationship strengthened. This will pave the way to develop Pakistan. But Our friends have many time helped us in big ways. We allowed USA build air Base in Peshawar to monitor the movement of Soviet Union. In lieu of that US helped us militariyly ,economically and we became one of the most progressing countries of the world. Korea,Taiwan, were far behind us. Our academic Institutions were best in the world. People from many countries come to study here. Our bureaucracy was amongst top countries of the world. Many countries send their personnel's to study our development plans. Finance Minister Sohaib, Asgar Khan and Nur Khan were top performers of our country.Industrialization was taking at rapid pace. But suddenly a wrong decision that lead to 1965 war blown every thing away. Opportunities come and go but we have to honest with our self and loyal with our country.

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Truth Teller

Feb 18, 2019 12:42pm

Love and Respect

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Mansur Ul Haque

Feb 18, 2019 12:45pm

Thank you. Your highness. To day 2000 families whose love ones are released will be celebrating Eid. Whole nation is thankful to you sir and pray for your good health, prosperity and prosperity of Saudia.

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Guzni

Feb 18, 2019 12:46pm

Excellent gesture.

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Bharat Dave

Feb 18, 2019 12:54pm

Good gesture

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Nauman

Feb 18, 2019 12:54pm

We as a nation thank MBS. And must fully appreciate PM khan courage to raise this issue right on time.

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ashraf

Feb 18, 2019 12:57pm

Long live Saudi-Pak friendship....

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Feb 18, 2019 12:59pm

The crown prince MBS has truly won the hearts of Pakistanis. The credit to all the accomplishments and the warmth in the relationship goes to our beloved PM Imran Khan.

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Bashir

Feb 18, 2019 01:03pm

Amazing, just shows a little bit of respect and gratitude for one another can achieve some great results instantly , lots hope this is the start of new beginnings of a new chapter for neighbouring countries,in th region,

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M.Mudassir Siddiqui

Feb 18, 2019 01:03pm

High Moments for Pakistan.

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Indian

Feb 18, 2019 01:08pm

Congrats! I hope they won't get into such things and live happily.

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Daud

Feb 18, 2019 01:10pm

HRH crown prince MBS and our PM IK has won the hearts entire Pakistani nation. JazakAllah Khair...

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Imran

Feb 18, 2019 01:17pm

@Jalil Yousaf, Definitely KSA is not going to release criminals and request was never intended for that. Most of them are poor people who went there on expensive visas but could not renew visa due to job loss or financial issues and can not pay penalties now.

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Shahzeb

Feb 18, 2019 01:17pm

This is called Brotherhood.

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nationalist

Feb 18, 2019 01:25pm

When a PM talks about his people and not business

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excalibur

Feb 18, 2019 01:27pm

Did NS or Zardari ever invite Imran Khan on such occasions when they were in power ???

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Shahzad

Feb 18, 2019 01:30pm

This is the beginning of people to people relationship. we are proud of you "Imran Khan"

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Wazir 1

Feb 18, 2019 01:31pm

No sky fell if the opposition leaders could have invited to the official engagements of MBS. It would be a democratic gesture and symbolised unity of the nation or political leadership.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Feb 18, 2019 01:38pm

Great move and excellent humanitarian gesture shown by MBS, crown Prince of the brotherly country of Saudi Arabia by ordering the release from Saudi jails of over two thousand citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Well done and keep it up.

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fairplay

Feb 18, 2019 01:39pm

how many times did NS ask for prisoner releases? zero!

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Aliaa Khan

Feb 18, 2019 01:44pm

Thank you Crown prince and his royal family. Thank you People of Saudi Arabia. I was not saudi supporter but you have changed my mind.

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Amazed

Feb 18, 2019 01:44pm

Wow. All love and respect to the great young Leader of a great Nation. Wishing all the best to the people of Saudi Arabia.

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Zeeshandxb

Feb 18, 2019 01:44pm

Lets hope he can become a bridge between india and pakistan in solving kashmir issue

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Naeem

Feb 18, 2019 01:44pm

Thats the way Mr. Khan !!!

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Reynolds

Feb 18, 2019 01:50pm

A great gesture from MBS. He has truly started to win hearts of Pakistani's.

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Sarfraz

Feb 18, 2019 01:57pm

He came, he saw, he conquered. HRH MBS we are grateful to you. And thanks our great PM IK who took up this matter with the Royal guest.

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Honey Khan

Feb 18, 2019 02:01pm

Complete contrast between Imran Khan and previous Prime Ministers of Pakistan. Imran requesting ease for Pakistan and Pakistanis other requested for their family and themselves.

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Asad

Feb 18, 2019 02:03pm

IK proving to be good leader for pakistan, in past only had corrupt ppp and pmln.

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Faisal

Feb 18, 2019 02:03pm

Great thank you MBS for this generous act. We Pakistani are indebted to you and want to see u as King of S.Arabia and the custodian of two holy mosques.

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Adnan

Feb 18, 2019 02:05pm

You can disagree with IK's policies all you want but you have to agree that he genuinely cares about his country and people.

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Shahzad

Feb 18, 2019 02:07pm

It seems like they both have found likeminded people in each other. Both are determined to change the way their countries have been run in the past. May this is start of an unbreakable and fruitful longterm relationship which would be mutually beneficial to people of both countries. Saudis have money and oil. Pakistan has human resources and skills. If both are used properly they'll take both countries to a new level!

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iftikhar

Feb 18, 2019 02:12pm

simply love you both the leaders

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Hameed khan

Feb 18, 2019 02:17pm

IK Zindabad, ♥ He is the First Pakistani Prime Minister who asked for the help of the poorest and helpless Pakistanis.

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Mazhar.A.Khan

Feb 18, 2019 02:20pm

Great gesture from honourable guest to this nation. Saluting PM Imran Khan to raise & request and to resolve this issue. This is first time a sitting PM has thought of those who are languished in foreign jails. Our old governments were least bothered or concerned about them. Thanks to PM & to Saudia.

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ABE

Feb 18, 2019 02:21pm

This achievement alone, wins IK my vote in the next elections! Well done! Bravo. Pakistan needed a leader like Imran Khan. No other previous government had the guts to even bring up the subject in numerous visits to KSA, let alone demand the release of the languishing Pakistanis in Saudi jails.

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Sajjad choudhry

Feb 18, 2019 02:28pm

May both ( MBS & IK) be blessed, the only but main dua by the poor man.

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Khan

Feb 18, 2019 02:30pm

Only the brave Khan can stand up and ask for this request with such confidence in front of the Prince! All previous Prime Ministers in recent times were cowards and only interested in money!

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Human

Feb 18, 2019 02:37pm

Speechless and teary-eyed.

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Daskalos

Feb 18, 2019 02:39pm

@Jalil Yousaf, I fully agree . If a foreign government is being generous to us then we also owe it to them to ensure that no negative elements are sent there. The cases of the 2000 released by the Saudis should also be reviewed here.

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Sameer

Feb 18, 2019 02:39pm

release of Pakistanis stranded in Saudi Arabia is a good omen.

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BhaRAT

Feb 18, 2019 02:41pm

PM Imran khan and Saudi Prince MBS Zindabad

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Hari

Feb 18, 2019 02:41pm

Good achievement

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Mahmood

Feb 18, 2019 02:44pm

@fairplay, "how many times did NS ask for prisoner releases? zero!" Doesn't the irony strike you as phenominal!? NS himself is a prisnoer now and asking for his own release! What a turn of events!! Nature has an interesting way to teach one an important lesson.

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RationalBabu

Feb 18, 2019 02:50pm

@fairplay, true but how did these thousands of Pakistanis end up in prison?

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Pakistan First

Feb 18, 2019 02:52pm

Hip Hip Horray

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RationalBabu

Feb 18, 2019 04:37pm

@Human, let’s have a balanced emotional response

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JustWasif

Feb 18, 2019 04:52pm

News of the year

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Imran

Feb 18, 2019 05:07pm

Not in the past 30 years have we seen such diplomacy and progress.

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Leo

Feb 18, 2019 05:33pm

@Jalil Yousaf, : The only sane comment. Well said Jalil

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Misba

Feb 18, 2019 05:41pm

@Wazir 1, Haven't they done enough damage already without being invited to official functions

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ukasha

Feb 18, 2019 06:04pm

good gesture

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Asif Ali

Feb 18, 2019 06:29pm

Assets for pakistan.

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Ishtiaq Khaliq

Feb 18, 2019 07:10pm

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

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Patriot

Feb 18, 2019 07:21pm

Well done your Highness, hats off, you have won our hearts.

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kabuli

Feb 18, 2019 07:50pm

Thanks for releasing all the prisoners. Hope they don't create any law and order situations in the country.

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AMJAD KHAN

Feb 18, 2019 07:59pm

It is a great news for the families of Pakistanis incarcerated in Saudi Jails.There are thousand of Pakistanis in American jails as well but they cannot be released without due process of law even if the President of United States wishes that.As we celebrate their release question arises why they were in jail.Having known the total disrespect of law in Saudi Arabia it is fair to say that some of them must have violated the laws of the kingdom.Time has come to educate our people to obey and respect foreign laws when in foreign lands.People in Saudi Arabia got lucky because crown prince's words are the law as there is no due process involved.If any of those individuals have committed serious crimes in the kingdom they should be arrested and jailed when they come home.There should be no free lunch for criminals anywhere.

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Hafeez

Feb 18, 2019 08:01pm

Thanks saudi Arabia and Pakistan This is naya Pakistan.

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Shazad

Feb 18, 2019 08:19pm

@Aaron: Obviously, criminals should not be released, neither I think that they would be nor Imran would ask for their release or would expect their release. I think (that is my opinion), these over 2000 people are those who are arrested and in prison because of breaking laws, such as over staying or are those who got arrested but charges on them are not proven.

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Chingez Khan

Feb 18, 2019 08:22pm

Dear Saudis! We will always stand by your side. Thanks

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haris

Feb 18, 2019 09:20pm

Finally someone raised the issue of hardships faced by Pakistani laborers living in KSA. Thanks PM.

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HakiM

Feb 18, 2019 09:23pm

@umar, I understand and respect your good wishes and hopes. Comparing postwar Germany and today's Pakistan is not fair, though. Germany was scientifically and echnologically THE leading superpower before the WW II. German language was THE language for science and technology. They had all the knowledge and technology. "Only" investment and rebuilding was required after the destruction caused by the war. Loans in form of Marshall plan were provided by the US basically to counter Russian influence. However, today's Pakistan is far from where Germany stood after the war. In terms of knowledge, education and technology. Still, we need to make progress and this is a very good opportunity. Hope, we keep moving on the right direction. We need sincere politicians.

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Syed

Feb 18, 2019 09:40pm

@Leo, Too late for that.

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THE MORNING STAR

Feb 18, 2019 10:22pm

Great start. But honestly 10 years too late. Oh all those wasted years and wasted $ on both sides. Better late than never. Even so. Lot of catching up to do.

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moeazzi

Feb 18, 2019 10:49pm

Even if these people are imprisoned for crime, they can finish their sentences in Pakistan and be close to their loved ones. That is what matters to being sympathetic and just at the same time. Well done IK.

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Sami Ullah

Feb 18, 2019 10:50pm

@Leo, Do you have a language institute for that? I guess we all will be learning Chinese soon both in East and West, remember. So might consider that business!

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kamal

Feb 18, 2019 10:55pm

All Prisons are full. No room left for new prisoners.

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Habibazuberi

Feb 19, 2019 12:03am

Release of Pakistani prisoners is a step in the right direction. Violations of rules like over stay should be limited to fines and not jail.

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Zak

Feb 19, 2019 02:26am

@Indian, jealousy is a form if pyschological Imbalance. Get well, not too soon.

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Rehman

Feb 19, 2019 02:38am

Together with Saudi Arabia and China, Pakistan can become a truly great power. Long live Saudi Arabia, China, and Pakistan. This will also end the nexus of America, India, and Israel.

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MSAlvi

Feb 19, 2019 04:59am

@Wazir 1, But the opposition does not cooperate with the government. They are doing leg-pulling. They don't even accept the new government - they call it selected. Under such circumstances, opposition should not have been invited.

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Javed

Feb 19, 2019 06:05am

You cant trust when someone smile so much

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Chinpaksaddique

Feb 19, 2019 07:12am

This is great news. Bravo PMIK. There are still more people there in Saudi. MBs should guarantee better living conditions and pay hikes and perks. Also more grants to us

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Reality Bites

Feb 19, 2019 10:48am

Thank you Prince, for showing a princely gesture.

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hanifsmile

Feb 19, 2019 07:35pm

Good, now its Imran Khan's turn, there are thousand of innocent people in Pakistan's jail, due to the influence of powerful people, please release them too

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BNS

Feb 19, 2019 11:24pm

Thank you Sir Crown Prince. Great and quick action!

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Mumtaz Ahmed Shah

Feb 20, 2019 12:04am

Thanks to Imran Khan( Prime Minister of Pakistan )who requested for release of voiceless prisioners in Saudia Arabia and a great gesture of MBS to order for release of detained prisioners immediately.We pakistanis are indebted to MBS and pray for a long life of both dynamic heros.(Texas)

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El Cid

Feb 20, 2019 11:30am

@hanifsmile, PM Khan can't release prisoners on his own. He is a prime minister, not a king. He has to go through the proper procedure and process of law. He can expedite the cases, though.

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