ISLAMABAD: Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), supported by the High Commission of Canada and collaborating with the Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights, launched the Detained Abroad registry on Tuesday here in Islamabad. This regional platform documents the rights and legal protections available to foreign nationals imprisoned across the Indo-Pacific.
The team unveiled the platform during a launch event in Islamabad, attended by representatives and consular officials from diplomatic missions, government ministries, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations, UN agencies, legal practitioners, and media representatives.
H.E. Tariq Ali Khan, the High Commissioner of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, opened the event with welcome remarks. The event included a presentation that introduced the Detained Abroad registry, outlining its purpose and practical use for consular officials, lawyers, and civil society organisations addressing detention cases. MNA Ilyas Chaudhary also delivered remarks.
Participants included Secretary Mr Nadeem Aslam from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (MOPHRD), members of the National Assembly and Senate Committees on Human Rights and Overseas Pakistanis, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, Director General LAJA, Ms. Una Kelly, First Secretary (Rule of Law) from the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan, Mr Ben Headon, Head of Consular at the Embassy of Ireland, and Mr Zulfiqar Hassan from the Embassy of Ireland.
The High Commissioner of Canada expressed, “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.”
The Detained Abroad platform offers country-specific analyses of legal frameworks governing the treatment of foreign nationals in detention throughout the Indo-Pacific. It covers laws related to capital punishment, protections against torture, consular rights under domestic and international law, fair trial guarantees, and prisoner repatriation mechanisms.
The platform also includes a directory of local lawyers, civil society organisations, and national human rights institutions, allowing practitioners to find trusted in-country support when addressing urgent detention cases.
Haris Zaki, Advocacy Lead at Justice Project Pakistan, stated at the launch, “Foreign nationals detained abroad often face unfamiliar legal systems, language barriers, and limited access to legal representation or consular support. Detained Abroad provides accessible legal information that can help practitioners, families, and advocates navigate these systems and better protect detainees’ rights.”
Senator Zeeshan Khanzada concluded the event with remarks asserting, “Today’s event has helped deepen our understanding of the serious challenges faced by Pakistani citizens imprisoned abroad.
He added that 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 further highlighted the lack of timely consular assistance for many overseas Pakistanis and the additional challenges they face due to language barriers in navigating foreign legal systems.
