43 Pakistanis serving jail sentences in SL repatriated to Islamabad

by T. K. G. Kapila, BIA Correspondent

Forty three Pakistani nationals incarcerated in Sri Lankans jails for narcotics offences were repatriated to their home country on Wednesday.

The convicts, who were released from jail on a request by the Pakistani government, left for Islamabad aboard a special Pakistan International Airlines flight PK9873 at 4.00 am, officials said.

On board the special flight, which landed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 10.50 pm the previous day, were 86 Pakistani security officers detailed to escort the prisoners to Islamabad, they said.

A Prisons Department bus transported the convicts to the BIA and handed them over to Sri Lanka Immigration. Individual files on the 43 prisoners, who were serving jail terms ranging from 10 to 15 years, were given to the Pakistani security officials, the officials said.

The convicts will be completing their jail terms in Pakistan, they said.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo, said High Commissioner Major General (Retd) Muhammad Saad Khattak bade farewell to the prisoners at the BIA.

Addressing them at the departure lounge, he advised the prisoners to refrain from crimes in future and lead a better life with their loved ones after they reach Pakistan.

“Life in prison is not an encouraging way of living, especially when they had to suffer for their crimes away from their motherland and families for such a long time”, the envoy noted.

The prisoners were very happy to go back to Pakistan and commit themselves to lead a healthy and productive life after they are out of prison, the High Commission said in a news release.

The prisoners thanked the Pakistani High Commissioner for the help extended in their long and technical repatriation process including the assistance provided to them by the High Commission, while they were waiting for the process to be completed, it added.