ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: Around 1,831 Pakistanis including 30 women are languishing in different prisons in Saudi Arabia, and the government has requested Saudi authorities to provide information about the number of undertrial prisoners along with period in custody.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar told the National Assembly here on Wednesday that majority of the prisoners –around 40 per cent – were related to drug trafficking and smuggling, while 26 per cent were in custody due to miscellaneous charges including traffic accident, bribery, brawl, trespassing, moral turpitude etc.The minister was responding to a question raised by MNA Tasneem Siddiqui of the PML-N.

She said 27 per cent of the prisoners were involved in forgery, fraud and theft while seven per cent had been accused of murder or rape.

As per details provided to the lower house, majority of 468 prisoners were being held in Al-Malaz Jail, Riyadh, followed by 380 prisoners in Bariman Jail Jeddah.

All 30 women Pakistani prisoners along with 260 men are being held in Makkah jails, 201 men in Al-Hair Jail Riyadh, 120 in Dammam Jail, 119 in General Jail Medina and 88 prisoners were in Al-Ahsa Jail. The remaining 165 Pakistani prisoners were in 16 different prisons across Saudi Arabia, the National Assembly was informed.