By Syed Mussarat Khalil

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Pakistan Consulate General’s Welfare Wing successfully repatriated two children, 9-year-old Mohammed Ayyan Mohammed Shabbir and 6-year-old Abdul Manan Mohammed Shabbir to their home city of Multan in the southern Punjab province.

Speaking to Saudi Gazette, Najeebullah Khan Durrani, community welfare attache in Jeddah, said Zulfikar Bukhari, special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on overseas Pakistanis and human resources affairs, took notice of the news reports about some Pakistani women and children being held in Saudi jails. Video clips showing the women and children arrested and imprisoned in Saudi Arabia were widely circulated on social media.

Bukhari ordered an inquiry into the matter and asked him to contact the Saudi authorities to secure the release of the Pakistani prisoners, said Durrani.

He further elaborated that three children, Ayyan, Manan and Bushra Perveen, were released after a meeting of Pakistani officials with the Saudi authorities.

The children were held in social protection homes in Saudi Arabia. They were kept there since 2016 when their parents were convicted of smuggling heroin into Saudi Arabia.

Bushra Perveen, 8, was already sent home to Pakistan with her aunt Fatima Aijaz who came from Pakistan to receive her.

The Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah bore the entire expenses for the repatriation of Ayyan and Manan.

Durrani urged all Pakistanis coming to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah to strictly follow and respect the laws and customs of the Kingdom. He said Umrah is an Islamic duty so they must perform the rituals accordingly.

Saudi Arabia has very strict laws against importing narcotic and psychotropic substances to the country, he added.

Durrani expressed his gratitude to Consul General Shehryar Akbar Khan and his staff for their support and cooperation.