Reports of 40,000 missing Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq turn out to be ‘incorrect’

The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was informed on Tuesday that claims of 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims having gone missing in Iraq were inaccurate.

Chairing the meeting, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada heard clarification from Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, who said the reports had been exaggerated.

“I met the Prime Minister of Iraq, and he termed these reports wrong. I also spoke to Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, who confirmed the same. It was a mistake,” Senator Abbas told the committee.

Officials from the Ministry of Interior said only 27 Pakistanis had been detained in Iraq, while 30 of 81 Pakistanis facing legal cases there were currently on trial.

Senator Abbas also raised concern over Pakistani passports being confiscated at airports in various countries, including Iraq. “This is a great insult to Pakistani citizens, and the government should take notice. Such treatment is not even extended to Afghan nationals,” he said. Ministry officials assured the committee the issue would be addressed diplomatically.

The Interior Ministry further briefed the committee that 21,647 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned abroad. Of these, more than 13,000 are under trial, while over 8,000 have been convicted.

The meeting was also attended by PTI’s newly elected Senator Faisal Javed.