Justice Project Pakistan launched the Detained Abroad registry at an event in Islamabad, presenting a first-of-its-kind regional platform that maps legal protections and consular rights for foreign nationals detained across the Indo-Pacific. Supported by the High Commission of Canada and developed in collaboration with the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights, the registry was introduced to consular officials, legal practitioners, civil society representatives, national human rights institutions and media.
The launch opened with remarks from H.E. Tariq Ali Khan, High Commissioner of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. “The Government of Canada is pleased to support the development and launch of the registry, the first of its kind, to help safeguard the rights and legal protections of Canadians, Pakistanis, and other nationals detained in the Indo-Pacific,” he said, underlining the project’s regional significance for consular engagement.
Detained Abroad provides country-specific legal analysis on issues that directly affect detainees and their families, including capital punishment laws, protections against torture, consular access under domestic and international law, fair trial guarantees and prisoner repatriation mechanisms. The platform also contains a directory of vetted local lawyers, civil society organisations and national human rights institutions to help practitioners and families identify trusted in-country support when urgent action is needed.
A consultation session at the event brought together civil society, government officials and diplomatic representatives to discuss strengthening coordination between legal, diplomatic and advocacy actors. Attendees included MNA Ilyas Chaudhary, Secretary Nadeem Aslam of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, members of the National Assembly and Senate Committees on Human Rights and Overseas Pakistanis, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, the Director General of LAJA, Ms. Una Kelly of the EU Delegation, and consular representatives from the Embassy of Ireland among others.
Data presented at the launch highlighted the scale of the issue within Pakistan: as of April 2024 at least 1,107 foreign nationals were incarcerated across the country, with Afghan nationals comprising 64 percent (703 prisoners) and Indian nationals 22 percent (245 prisoners). Most foreign detainees in Pakistan were recorded under the Foreigners Act, 1946 (416 prisoners) and the Control of Narcotic Substances Act, 1997 (119 prisoners), while many Indian nationals were charged under the Control of Entry Act, 1952 (222 prisoners). These figures underscore gaps in timely consular access and legal safeguards that Detained Abroad seeks to address.
Haris Zaki, Advocacy Lead at Justice Project Pakistan, noted that “foreign nationals detained abroad often face unfamiliar legal systems, language barriers and limited access to legal representation or consular support.” He said the Detained Abroad registry aims to make critical legal information accessible so families, lawyers and advocates can better protect detainees’ rights and coordinate responses across borders.
The platform was developed following extensive research and consultations with legal practitioners, NGOs and UN agencies across the region. Organisers said Detained Abroad is intended to strengthen legal defence strategies, improve consular engagement and support more coordinated, timely interventions in cases involving foreign nationals.
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada closed the event by emphasising the need to protect overseas Pakistanis and deepen institutional responses to detention cases. “Overseas Pakistanis play a vital role in our country—their hard work supports families, strengthens our economy, and contributes significantly to national development. However, they are not just workers; they are citizens of Pakistan, and it is our responsibility to protect them wherever they may be,” he said, stressing the importance of improved consular assistance and language-sensitive legal support.
