When asked to give an update on the status of five Pakistanis arrested in Jeddah last month on the charge of drug 
smuggling, the Spokesman of Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs said Saturday that Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani took immediate cognizance of the matter, and in consultation with the MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) leadership, instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and Anti-Narcotics Force to look into the issue with a view to establishing the factual position.
Our preliminary investigations revealed that those arrested in Jeddah were innocent.
The Prime Minister has instructed the relevant authorities to expedite their investigations so that the five innocent Pakistanis are brought back to Pakistan at the earliest. Saudi authorities are fully cooperating to bring the real culprits to justice.
Last week these Pakistanis were arrested on arrival in Saudi Arabia after durgs were found in the slippers given to them by their travel agent. The accused pleaded innocence saying the contraband were sneaked into complimentary slippers and pirlgrimage dress by the travel agent. Police has arrested the relatives of travel agent based in Karachi.
smuggling, the Spokesman of Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs said Saturday that Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani took immediate cognizance of the matter, and in consultation with the MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) leadership, instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and Anti-Narcotics Force to look into the issue with a view to establishing the factual position. Our preliminary investigations revealed that those arrested in Jeddah were innocent.
These findings were shared with the Saudi Government through diplomatic channels.
The Embassy of Pakistan in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah are in regular touch with Saudi authorities for early release of the five innocent Pakistanis and their repatriation to Pakistan. The Saudi Government has responded positively to our request to hold the prosecution of the five arrested persons in abeyance with a view to bringing the real culprits to book.
The Prime Minister has instructed the relevant authorities to expedite their investigations so that the five innocent Pakistanis are brought back to Pakistan at the earliest. Saudi authorities are fully cooperating to bring the real culprits to justice.
Last week these Pakistanis were arrested on arrival in Saudi Arabia after durgs were found in the slippers given to them by their travel agent. The accused pleaded innocence saying the contraband were sneaked into complimentary slippers and pirlgrimage dress by the travel agent. Police has arrested the relatives of travel agent based in Karachi.
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