ISLAMABAD: Senate standing committee on interior has urged foreign
office to shift foreign embassies and diplomatic missions located in
residential areas of Islamabad to diplomatic enclave as soon as
possible.
Committee met here Tuesday under its chairman Senator Talha Mehmood in parliament house.
CDA
and foreign office officials told the committee that 54 foreign
embassies and missions had opened their offices in residential areas of
federal capital. 32 among them had been allotted land in diplomatic
enclave and only 22 were still functioning in residential areas, which
were being shifted to diplomatic enclave gradually, committee was
further told.
Committee directed CDA and foreign office to
shift all foreign embassies to diplomatic enclave as soon as possible
because their presence in residential areas was security risk for
citizens.
Committee was told 1601 Pakistanis were serving
prison terms in the jails of Saudi Arabia. Committee directed foreign
office to review the present status of Pakistanis imprisoned in jails
of Saudi Arabia and take steps to secure release of innocent Pakistanis
and the prisoners who had completed their jail terms.
Committee
also sought details from foreign office in respect of Pakistani
nationals imprisoned in India and the expenses being incurred on the
residences of Pakistani ambassadors and diplomats in foreign countries. Online
