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Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday said that three special commercial flights had been arranged to bring back 540 Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan today.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore alongside Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, Dar — who is also the foreign minister — said, “Yesterday, around 130 students reached Pakistan via commercial flights. So today, three commercial flights, special flights have been arranged. Through these 540 more students will be able to return and the [total] number will increase to 670.”
He further said that the government had also talked to the air force today, adding that it would also operate a flight. “The capacity of that flight will be approximately 130 and for that the embassy has let the students know […] So far, around 50 students have let the embassy know they wish to go on this flight,” he said.
The development comes after around more than 100 students arrived in Lahore last night, following mob violence in the Central Asian country’s capital Bishkek, which had resulted in injuries to five Pakistani students as per the Kyrgyz health ministry.
Kyrgyz police said they had mobilised forces in the Central Asian nation’s capital on Friday to quell violence, in which hundreds of Kyrgyz men attacked buildings housing foreign students, including Pakistanis.
According to Pakistan’s embassy in Bishkek, foreign students living in the Kyrgyz capital, including those from Pakistan, were attacked by locals in the aftermath of a brawl with Egyptian nationals on May 13.
Kyrgyz private media outlet 24.kg reported that a “spontaneous protest against foreigners” that began on Friday night in Bishkek ended on Saturday morning after police came to an agreement with the rioters and they dispersed a little later.
Pakistan on Saturday summoned Kyrgyz envoy Melis Moldaliev to the Foreign Office and demanded “all possible measures” for the protection of the students, with the embassy asking them to remain indoors till de-escalation of the situation.
Further, as many as 140 Pakistani students, stuck in Bishkek, arrived in Lahore on Saturday night, according to an interior ministry’s spokesperson. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi received them at Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also asked Dar to visit Bishkek along with Kashmir Affairs Minister Amir Muqam on a special flight. However, they held a press conference addressing the issue.
Addressing the media alongside Muqam and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Dar quoted the Kyrgyz foreign minister as telling him that a total of 16 foreign students had been injured, including four to five Pakistanis.
Meanwhile, the premier instructed Hasan Zaigham, Pakistan’s ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, to make necessary arrangements regarding the special plane for bringing back Pakistani students from the Central Asian country, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
In a telephonic conversation with Zaigham today, PM Shehbaz directed the ambassador to stay in touch with all Pakistani students and their families in Kyrgyzstan.
“The prime minister said injured Pakistani students should be brought to Pakistan on a priority basis,” the report said. PM Shehbaz also said that repatriation of family members residing in Kyrgyzstan with Pakistani students should also be arranged on a priority basis.
“On the instructions of the prime minister, a special plane will leave for Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan this evening and will bring back 130 Pakistani students tonight,” the report added.
Meanwhile, the ambassador briefed the premier about his meeting with the Kyrgyz deputy foreign minister. Zaigham said that the Kyrgyz government had said the situation had been completely brought under control and there were no new incidents of violence last night and today.
“The Kyrgyz deputy foreign minister said security has been enhanced and Pakistani and other foreign students are absolutely safe,” the report said.
Attack on hostels
Zaigham posted a video update on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday regarding the situation in the Central Asian state. He said “local extremist elements” had attacked six hostels of international students and their private residences last night in Bishkek, injuring 14.
“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 liaising with the local law enforcement authorities to ensure the safety of our student fraternity,” the ambassador said in a post on ‘X’.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch also reposted the envoy’s message and said the embassy was in contact with the Kyrgyz authorities as the safety of the students was of paramount importance for the ambassador and his team.
In a statement, the FO said the government had been in contact with Kyrgyz authorities to ensure the safety and security of its nationals at risk in view of the riots.
“The Kyrgyz authorities have expressed regret at the incidents of violence against foreign nationals, including Pakistanis in Bishkek last night. They have also pledged to hold an inquiry and punish the perpetrators”, it said.
“The government of Pakistan takes the matter of the safety and security of its national around the world very seriously and will take all necessary measures to ensure their wellbeing. The deputy prime minister and foreign minister [Ishaq Dar] has directed the Foreign Office to monitor the situation round-the-clock and fully assist and facilitate Pakistani nationals.”
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