Distressed Pakistani students reach home in first flight from Bishkek
Pakistan
Pakistan’s embassy in Kyrgyzstan has advised Pakistani students to stay indoors
- The incident is said to be the outcome of some misunderstanding after fight between Egyptian students, locals
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar deeply concerned over the incident
LAHORE (Dunya News) - As the recently unfolding situation in Kyrgyzstan has put the students at risk, the first flight carrying 180 passengers has reached Lahore.
The flight KA-571 landed at the Lahore Airport.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the students at the airport where he was flanked by the airport’s Chief Operating Officer and several senior officials.
Airport Manager Nazir Ahmad Khan said separate counters have been set up in the international arrival lounge for the passengers arriving in the flight while orders have also been issued to the FIA for the timely immigration of students and passengers coming from Bishkek.
Sources said two separate flights would also bring 360 students stuck in Kyrgyzstan tomorrow with one flight to land in Lahore and the other in the capital.
Dozens of Pakistani students were wounded in mob violence around student hostels in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Friday night, Dunya News reported.
According to some media reports, a recent fight between Egyptian students and local Kyrgyz people has been wrongly blamed on Pakistani students, leading to violent attacks on their hostels in Bishkek.
The attackers forcibly entered the hostels, broke the doors of the rooms and tortured and injured several students.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s embassy in Kyrgyzstan has advised the Pakistani students in Bishkek to stay indoors until the situation returns to normalcy. The embassy is also in contact with the local law-enforcement authorities to ensure safety of Pakistani students.
In a social media post, Ambassador of Pakistan in Bishkek Hasan Zaigham assured that the embassy was liasing with the local law-enforcement authorities to ensure safety of the Pakistani students.
The envoy also shared helpline numbers +996555554476 and +996507567667, asking the students to call in case of emergency.
“In view of mob violence around student hostels in Bishkek, the embassy strongly advises all Pakistani students in Bishkek to stay indoors until the situation returns to normal. We are liasing with the local law-enforcement authorities to ensure safety of our student fraternity,” the ambassador said.
FOREIGN OFFICE SAYS PAKISTANI STUDENTS' SAFETY PARAMOUNT
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra-Baloch also reposted the envoy’s message and said the embassy was in contact with the Kyrgyz authorities to facilitate Pakistani students as their safety was of paramount importance for the ambassador and his team.
Various social media posts also reported the incidents of mob violence in the hostels housing foreign students in Bishkek, along with the footages and imagery, with many appealing to the relevant authorities for immediate help to the Pakistani students.
RESPONSE TO CALLS
According to Ambassador Hasan Zaigham, the embassy staff was continuously responding to the calls from the Pakistani students and extending maximum possible support to them. “The Embassy of Pakistan is doing its best to help Pakistani students in distress,” he responded to an X post.
FO spokesperson Baloch also seconded the ambassador, saying he and his team were available on the given emergency numbers which are also available on WhastApp.“They have responded to hundreds of queries by students and their families. In case the numbers do not connect because of phone traffic, please text/WhatsApp,” she advised.
PRIME MINISTER DEEPLY CONCERNED OVER ATTACKS
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep concern over the attacks on students from Pakistan and other countries in Kyrgyzstan. He directed the Pakistani ambassador in Bishkek to provide all possible help to the Pakistani students.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said the Pakistani Embassy had provided emergency numbers and was continuously monitoring the situation.
REPORTS OF ATTACKS ON STUDENTS EXTREMELY ALARMING: ISHAQ DAR
On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said reports of mob attacks on students in Kyrgyzstan were very disturbing. Dar said, "We are in contact with Kyrgyz authorities to ensure safety of Pakistani students."
He said Pakistan's enovy in Kyrgyzstan had been directed to provide all facilities to students.
