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Saudi drug scandal family returns

* Released man says he is thankful to Saudi royal family, Pakistani president and prime minister for their release

By Aamir Yasin

RAWALPINDI: Five Pakistanis arrested in Saudi Arabia on charges of drugs smuggling landed at Chaklala Airbase on Friday.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Chairman of Standing Committee for Interior Senator Talha Mehmood, Saudi Ambassador Abdul Aziz Al-Ghadeer and relatives of the released people received them. Eight Pakistanis were arrested in Saudi Arabia on June 1 for trying to smuggle narcotics, allegedly provided by a travel agent in Karachi. The narcotics were found concealed in their slippers. Three Pakistanis had confessed to their crime and five others, from the same family, were declared innocent by Saudi authorities.

The three who have confessed to smuggling drugs into Saudi Arabia now face the death sentence. Those who were arrested in Pakistan, including a travel agent and his wife, would be tried under Pakistani laws.

Muhammad Arif, a released Pakistani, said he was very thankful to the Saudi royal family, and the Pakistani president and prime minister for their release. Muhammad Anis, another member of the family, also expressed gratitude to President Asif Zardari and Interior Minister Rehman Malik for their untiring efforts to ensure their release. Senate’s Standing Committee for Interior Chairman Senator Talha Mehmood said, “We have performed our duty. We will also try our best to get Dr Aafia Siddiqui released,” he said.

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