ISLAMABAD: More than 350 Pakistanis are languishing in prisons across the United States, revealed a document issued by the Foreign Ministry in response to questions by a senator.
According to the report, the Pakistanis had been arrested over allegations of various offences, ranging from terrorism to violation of immigration laws. It said that 104 Pakistani citizens were serving prison sentences, whereas 253 were still under trial. A majority of the prisoners were in jail for violation of immigration laws, while others were accused of terrorism, theft, burglary and fraud. Dr Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani scientist, was sentenced to prison in 2007 for allegedly attacking US soldiers. Khalid Awan has been facing imprisonment since 2006 for assisting an Indian terrorist organisation, while Shehwar Mateen and Abdul Naseer were imprisoned for allegedly planting a bomb, revealed the report. The ministry presented a list of prisoners, along with the nature of allegations levelled against them. The report clarified that as soon as diplomatic missions were informed about the arrest of a Pakistani national, immediate consular access was requested and the relevant mission remained in contact with the person in prison and detention centres. The ministry also claimed that regular consular visits were also arranged, adding that the missions also provided possible legal assistance, if requested. “Most of the under-trial prisoners/detainees usually sign a waiver at the time of their arrest, surrendering their right to consular access with the intention to exhaust all possible legal avenues to stay in the United States even after completion of their sentences,” the report said.
