Pakistan has successfully secured the release of 82 prisoners in Bahrain, under a Royal Pardon granted by King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on Eidul Fitr, the Foreign Office said on Tuesday.
“The release of a large number of Pakistanis is the result of efforts of Ambassador Javed Malik, who personally visited the inmates in May 2016 and took up the matter with the relevant authorities in Bahrain,” said a statement issued by the office of the FO spokesperson.
“The Pakistanis, who have been released, will soon be united with their families as efforts are now underway to repatriate them back to Pakistan,” the communique added.
The FO lauded the cooperation by Bahraini authorities, particularly the interior minister of Bahrain. “The families of the prisoners are grateful to His Majesty King Hamad Bin Esa Al Khalifa for his cooperation, benevolence and commitment to justice and fairness.”
Last year, Pakistan and Bahrain had signed several agreements and MoUs for promotion of bilateral relations during delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Bahrain Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa in Manama.
Both the countries also signed an agreement to declare Islamabad and Bahraini capital Manama as twin cities.
