77 inmates freed from UAE jails after Pakistan pays fines

Prisoners had served their time but had no cash to pay penalties

DUBAI // Seventy-seven Pakistani prisoners who had served their sentences for petty offences but were kept in jail have been freed after having their fines paid by their government.

Dh308,402 was paid by the Pakistani foreign office allowing the prisoners to be released, the official government news agency Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

They were among 271 Pakistanis released from countries including Malaysia, China, Saudi Arabia and Nepal.

“According to the foreign office, 77 prisoners who had completed their sentences on petty charges but were not being released due to non-payment of fines were freed from Dubai during May to June 2013,” said APP.

“An amount of 8,799,872 Pakistani rupees sanctioned from the government account was placed at the disposal of Dubai for the payment of fines.”

The government spent more than Dh500,000 to have all 271 prisoners released.

Between 2011 and last year, Pakistan secured the release of 30 prisoners from the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia by paying fines.

Under a separate agreement sign-ed by the UAE and Pakistan, thousands of prisoners were expected to be sent home to complete the remainder of their terms.

Only those convicted of minor offences are eligible. Those jailed for offences such as crimes against the state, murder or embezzlement will not be sent home.

The costs of the transfer and air travel will be met by Pakistan, while the UAE will cover any costs incurred here.

The Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement was signed in February last year.

A similar deal was signed with India nine months later but was only formally ratified by the UAE in July.