ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Syed Rafiullah, has written to Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, expressing grave concern over the plight of Pakistani nationals imprisoned in Cambodia and urging immediate diplomatic intervention for their release.
In his letter, Rafiullah highlighted that several Pakistani citizens are languishing in Cambodian prisons under extremely difficult conditions and called upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take urgent steps to secure their release and ensure their safe and dignified repatriation. He also drew attention to circulating videos allegedly depicting the harsh conditions faced by Pakistani prisoners, stressing the need for swift verification and appropriate response.
Responding to media queries, Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the Pakistan Embassy in Cambodia has been actively pursuing the matter with the Cambodian authorities. “This is in line with the instructions of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister that facilitating the Pakistani community abroad remains a top priority,” he said.
As a result of these efforts, Cambodian authorities have agreed to the early repatriation of 54 Pakistani nationals detained in Siem Reap Province. According to the spokesperson, these individuals were arrested following a raid on a suspected scamming compound. Embassy officials are taking necessary steps to ensure the welfare of detainees, who are expected to return to Pakistan once flight arrangements are finalised.
As a goodwill gesture, the Cambodian authorities have decided to repatriate the detainees without initiating legal proceedings under the “Law on Combating Online Scams,” which came into effect on April 7, 2026, with stringent penalties, including lengthy prison terms and heavy fines.
