LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs how much more time the government required to bring back 44 Pakistanis imprisoned in Iran.

In compliance with the court’s previous direction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Director for Iran and Turkey Saima Khan appeared before the court and submitted a list of Pakistanis confined in Iranian prisons.

Justice Shahid Waheed went through the documents and asked the ministry to apprise the court on the next hearing how much more time would be needed to bring back the prisoners.

The judge was hearing a petition of the Justice Project Pakistan filed on behalf of the families of Pakistanis imprisoned in Iran over alleged drug offences.

Barrister Sarah Belal, on behalf of the petitioners, had informed the court that earlier in the year Iranian Deputy Minister for Justice and Human Rights Mahmoud Abbasi had said that 44 Pakistani prisoners were ready to be repatriated by Iran and the Iranian government was awaiting a response from Pakistani authorities.

She said the Iranian courts would not review the death sentences automatically and the government of Pakistan would have to ensure an effective representation of its citizens before the authority concerned.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2020