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ISLAMABAD: The four-month saga of five Pakistanis arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with a drug smuggling case ended on Friday when they returned to the country by a special plane provided by the Saudi government.
The five, Mohammad Anis, his wife Rabia and his mother Zohra Moosani and Arif Chohan and wife Shumaila, were received at the Chaklala Airbase by Interior Minister Rehman Malik and their relatives amid touching scenes.
They were taken to the Prime Minister’s House to meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. They praised efforts made by the government for their release.
‘We are thankful to the government, president, prime minister, interior minister and the nation who supported us and made our return possible,’ Mr Anis said.
He also thanked the Saudi authorities for providing justice and facilitating their
return to the country.
They were also allowed to perform Umra.
The three women, who were overcome by emotion, avoided talking to journalists at the airport.
‘Our aim was to bring them back unconditionally and the credit goes to all who worked for this purpose,’ the interior minister said, adding that the prime minister took special interest in the matter.
The five people were released after the real culprits who had placed narcotics in their belongings were arrested in
‘Your innocence has added to the country’s pride,’ the prime minister told them. He thanked the Saudi government for their release. Mr Gilani praised the efforts made by the ministries of interior and religious affairs to resolve the matter. He directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify diplomatic efforts for the release of other innocent Pakistanis detained abroad.
The five Pakistanis were earlier scheduled to return on Sept 28, but because of some legal formalities their arrival was delayed. When they were released on Wednesday they requested the Saudi authorities to allow them to perform Umra which they could not do because of their arrest.
They were among eight Pakistanis who were arrested at Jeddah airport on June one after narcotic drugs were found concealed in their slippers provided by a travel agent in
Three main accused, travel agent Syed Sarvat Hussain, his wife Safia and Faraz Hussain, who had allegedly concealed heroin in the sleepers they provided to the Umra visitors, are in police custody and being tried under Pakistani laws. Haji Abdul Jabbar Tonyo, the man allegedly behind the crime, is at large. Link...