ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar on Tuesday criticised former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar for suspending prisoner exchange agreements during his tenure.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by CJP, was hearing cases related to recovery of Pakistan prisoners in Sri Lanka and Thailand.
During the hearing, the attorney general presented a list of Pakistanis in prisons overseas. According to the list, 87 Pakistanis are currently present in Sri Lankan prisons, 83 in Thailand, 2,700 in the United Arab Emirates, 423 in the United Kingdom and ‘scores’ in Yemen.
In his remarks, Justice Nisar criticised PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar for suspending prisoners exchange. “As the interior minister of the country, what authority did Nisar have which allowed him to suspend exchange of prisoners?” CJP questioned.
“Pakistans are dying in Sri Lankan and Thailand prisoners. I am receiving more complains from China. Despite this, the government has suspended prisoners exchange,” he added.
The CJP also ordered the attorney general to consult the matter with the interior minister and the ministry and recover “all Pakistani prisoners” overseas within 1-month.
