Saudi Crackdown Exposes Pakistan’s Deep Crisis As 170 Executions Raise Global Alarm In Gulf Nations

International News:  Saudi Arabia reports the highest arrest numbers for Pakistanis among foreign nationals. Cases involve theft, drugs and assault. Many migrants arrive without documents. Labour agents mislead workers easily. Police action becomes swift. Most workers cannot afford lawyers.

Did The Last Decade Turn Worse?

Official and NGO reports show 170 Pakistanis executed since 2014. Cases range from homicide to drug trafficking. Each year saw shifting numbers. Several inmates lacked legal defence. Families got the news very late. Appeals rarely moved forward.

Why Are Executions Rising Rapidly?

Saudi Arabia’s stricter policing has increased pressure on migrant workers. Pakistani labourers face the harshest outcomes under these tightened rules. Journalist Zahid Gishkori tracked these cases for years. His report says 2024 was the harshest year. Twenty-one Pakistanis were executed in different cases. Earlier years saw mixed figures. But the overall trend grew sharper. Pakistani authorities failed to intervene.

Is The New Year Any Different?

The new year has not brought any relief for Pakistani migrants. Early executions show that policy remains as tough as before. 2025 already recorded three executions. This shows zero relaxation in Saudi policy. Trials move fast under strict laws. Migrants fail to understand procedures. Language barriers block fair defence. Embassy teams remain missing. Poor workers face the toughest hit.

How Many Pakistanis Fill Saudi Prisons?

Saudi jails continue to hold one of the largest groups of Pakistani inmates. Legal delays keep thousands trapped for years. More than seven thousand Pakistanis are currently jailed. Charges include petty theft, drug carrying and minor disputes. At least twenty-eight inmates face death sentences. Hearings continue slowly. Many could return by paying fines. But no guidance reaches families.

Are Pakistani Women Also Suffering?

Female migrant workers from Pakistan face the same harsh outcomes. Their cases often go unnoticed due to weak legal support.Twenty-two Pakistani women are locked inside Saudi prisons. Two face death sentences as well. Most came as domestic workers. Abuse complaints were ignored. Several lacked proper visas. Their legal help never arrived. Families remain confused back home.

Why Is Islamabad Failing Its Citizens?

Pakistan’s diplomatic missions appear unable to protect vulnerable migrants. Consular response remains slow and ineffective. Zahid questions Pakistan’s embassies for their silence. He says consular teams rarely intervene. Small offenders wait for years. No financial aid reaches them. No translators join hearings. And no government plan protects labourers abroad.