ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has asked Saudi Arabia for consular access to analyst and commentator Zaid Hamid, official said today.
“Pakistan embassy has approached the Saudi authorities to confirm the sentence awarded to him and has also asked for consular access to Zaid Hamid,” Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah in a statement said.
On Wednesday, media reports suggested Hamid has been sentenced for eight years in jail and 1,000 lashes by a Saudi court for criticising the Saudi government. The analyst was arrested in the kingdom last week during a private visit.
On June 26, the Foreign Office confirmed Hamid had been arrested in Saudi Arabia.