Uzbek Deputies Approve Ratification of Prison Transfer Deal with Pakistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, at a regular session, reviewed and adopted the draft law "On the Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons," signed on 5 February 2026 in Islamabad.

The document provides for the possibility of transferring foreign citizens sentenced to imprisonment in the territory of one party to serve the remainder of their sentence in the state of their citizenship. As noted during the consideration of the bill, this mechanism is aimed at facilitating the social rehabilitation and correction of sentenced persons.

According to the agreement, a transfer is possible subject to established conditions and on the basis of a legally binding judicial decision of the sentencing state. The state enforcing the sentence ensures the continued serving of the remaining part of the punishment in accordance with this judicial decision, without worsening the condition of the sentenced person.

The document also defines the distribution of expenses associated with the transfer of sentenced persons. Following the transfer, all expenses are borne by the state executing the sentence, while during transit, the corresponding costs are assigned to the state through whose territory the transit is carried out.

In addition, the agreement regulates the grounds for refusing the transfer of a sentenced person, the procedure for reviewing a sentence, the application of pardons, amnesties, commutations of punishment, or release from serving the remainder of a sentence. It also covers mechanisms for settling potential disputes, languages of official interaction between the parties, and the procedures for making amendments, the entry into force of the document, and its termination.

The Legislative Chamber emphasized that the ratification of the agreement will strengthen the legal framework for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan in the field of transferring sentenced persons, creating additional conditions for their social rehabilitation by allowing them to serve their sentences in their country of citizenship.

Following the review, the deputies adopted the draft law and forwarded it to the Senate.