DUBAI: Some 80 Pakistani prisoners were granted pardons by the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, the Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi reported in a statement. According to the embassy's release, the prisoners, who had been imprisoned throughout the Emirates, saw their cases presented to Abu Dhabi ruler and UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan for pardoning. It was granted. Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE Jamil Ahmed Khan said the move was welcomed by the Pakistani government and the two countries are looking to move forward. Currently, there are thousands of Pakistani workers living in the UAE, where they face poor living and working conditions, international labor organizations have reported. Khan said he hoped that remission to Pakistani prisoners in other prisons of UAE would also be granted by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, before the end of Ramadan. The ambassador said the Pakistani embassy would continue making efforts to pursue the “just causes and assist the UAE authorities in augmenting the welfare aspects of Pakistani prisoners.” He urged the ministry of interior to step up efforts for the early finalization of the “Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons between Pakistan and the UAE.” Once the Agreement is signed, it would offer opportunities to all Pakistani prisoners in the UAE to serve the remaining part of their sentences in Pakistan, “close to their hometowns and families,” he added. BM
