Saudi Arabia Executes Pakistani Man Convicted of Drug Smuggling
RIYADH: A Pakistani executed in Saudi Arabia for smuggling heroin had been convicted by a court in the Makkah region, the kingdom’s interior ministry announced.
Security authorities investigated the case before referring it to the relevant court, which found the man guilty and sentenced him to death. The sentence was later upheld by Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court, and a royal order authorised its implementation, the ministry said.
In its statement, the ministry warned that anyone involved in drug smuggling would face severe punishment. The announcement did not identify the Pakistani national, and it did not say when the execution took place.
Pakistani executed in Saudi Arabia: the Sri Lankan case
The ministry’s announcement also covered a separate case. Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan, who had been convicted over a social media post deemed blasphemous.
Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said an appeal had been filed against that sentence. He attributed the reversal to sustained diplomatic and legal efforts by the Sri Lankan government.
Why the case matters for Pakistani workers in the Gulf
Saudi Arabia applies the death penalty to drug smuggling, and its courts treat narcotics offences among the most serious crimes on the books. The kingdom is home to one of the largest Pakistani expatriate communities in the world, and Pakistan maintains a consulate general in Jeddah that handles consular cases involving detained nationals.
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The execution comes as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue close diplomatic contact. In recent days, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi targets as unacceptable.
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President Asif Ali Zardari recently received the credentials of the new Saudi ambassador-designate in Islamabad, underlining the breadth of the bilateral relationship.
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FAQs
What was the Pakistani man convicted of?
He was convicted of smuggling heroin in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia. The interior ministry said security authorities investigated the case and referred it to court, which handed down the death sentence.
Did Saudi courts review the sentence?
Yes. The ministry said the death sentence was upheld by Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court before a royal order authorised the execution.
Was the man’s identity released?
No. The Saudi interior ministry did not identify the Pakistani national or specify the date of the execution.
What happened in the Sri Lankan case?
In a separate case, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan, who had been convicted over a social media post deemed blasphemous. Sri Lanka’s deputy foreign minister said sustained diplomatic and legal efforts led to the reversal.
