ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), with the support of the High Commission of Canada and in collaboration with the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights, launched Detained Abroad, a regional registry documenting the rights and legal protections available to foreign nationals imprisoned across the Indo-Pacific.
The platform was unveiled at a launch event held in Islamabad, and was attended by representatives and consular officials from diplomatic missions, government ministries, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, UN agencies, legal practitioners, and media representatives.
The event opened with welcome remarks by H.E. Tariq Ali Khan, High Commissioner of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, followed by a presentation introducing Detained Abroad, providing an overview of the registry and its practical use for consular officials, lawyers, and civil society organisations responding to detention cases. Remarks were also delivered by MNA Ilyas Chaudhary.
A consultation session followed, bringing together civil society organisations, government officials, and ambassadors—including the Ambassador of Portugal to Pakistan—to discuss how improved legal resources and stronger coordination between legal, diplomatic, and civil society actors can reduce the risks faced by foreign nationals in detention.
Participants included Secretary Mr. Nadeem Aslam, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD); members of the National Assembly and Senate Committees on Human Rights and Overseas Pakistanis; Senator Zeeshan Khanzada; Director General LAJA; Ms. Una Kelly, First Secretary (Rule of Law), Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan; Mr. Ben Headon, Head of Consular, Embassy of Ireland; and Mr. Zulfiqar Hassan, Embassy of Ireland.
The High Commissioner of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan stated: “The Government of Canada is pleased to support the development and launch of the registry, the first of its kind, to help safeguard the rights and legal protections of Canadians, Pakistanis, and other nationals detained in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Detained Abroad platform provides country-specific analysis of legal frameworks governing the treatment of foreign nationals in detention across the Indo-Pacific, including capital punishment laws, protections against torture, consular rights under domestic and international law, fair trial guarantees, and prisoner repatriation mechanisms.
In addition to legal analysis, the platform includes a directory of local lawyers, civil society organisations, and national human rights institutions, enabling practitioners to identify trusted in-country support when responding to urgent detention cases.
As of April 2024, at least 1,107 foreign nationals were incarcerated in prisons across Pakistan, highlighting a significant but often overlooked human rights concern. Afghan nationals make up the majority at 64% (703 prisoners).
These figures underscore the urgent need for stronger legal safeguards, timely consular access, and improved protections for foreign detainees in Pakistan.
Speaking at the launch, Haris Zaki, Advocacy Lead at Justice Project Pakistan, said: “Foreign nationals detained abroad often face unfamiliar legal systems, language barriers, and limited access to legal representation or consular support. Detained Abroad provides accessible legal information that can help practitioners, families, and advocates navigate these systems and better protect detainees’ rights.”
Developed through extensive research and consultations with legal practitioners, NGOs, and UN agencies across the region, Detained Abroad aims to strengthen legal defence strategies, improve consular engagement, and support more coordinated responses to cases involving foreign nationals in detention.
The event concluded with closing remarks by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, who stated: “Today’s event has helped deepen our understanding of the serious challenges faced by Pakistani citizens detained abroad. Overseas Pakistanis play a vital role in our country—their hard work supports families, strengthens our economy, and contributes significantly to national development.
However, they are not just workers; they are citizens of Pakistan, and it is our responsibility to protect them wherever they may be.” He further highlighted that many overseas Pakistanis do not receive timely consular assistance and, due to language barriers, often face additional difficulties in navigating foreign legal systems.
