- FO summons Kyrgyz Charge d’Affaires for a demarche, conveying concerns about Pakistanis wellbeing
- Embassy, Foreign Office, govt in close contact with senior Kyrgyz authorities to ensure safety of students
- Ambassador refutes reports on three deaths, saying four students got injuries
BISHKEK/ISLAMABAD: A special flight Saturday night landed at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport with the first batch of Pakistan students from the “troubled Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek” where several foreigners were subjected to mob violence last night.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi received the students at the airport.
However, there was a lack of clarity about the number of students in the flight with the state broadcaster saying 30, 140 and 180 in separate posts on X.
The development comes hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the federal government will bear all travel expenses of stranded Pakistani students who wanted to return to the country after mob violence against foreigners in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek.
On the other hand, Kyrgyz police said they had mobilised forces in the Central Asian nation’s capital yesterday to quell the 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 their brawl with Egyptian nationals on May 13.
The report quoted the Kyrgyz health ministry as saying 29 people were injured in the violence. The country’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, said 14 foreigners were discharged from hospitals after treatment.
The Pakistani embassy in Bishkek refuted the reports about deaths of Pakistani students, clarifying there were no deaths. “Moreover, Kygyz Ministry of Internal Affairs has also issued press releases stating that the situation is under control,” it said.
State-run Pakistan Television (PTV) said that a special flight with the first batch of Pakistani students from Bishkek arrived at the Lahore airport.
The government has been in contact with the Kyrghyz Government to ensure the safety and security of its nationals at risk in view of the mob riots of last night in the Kyrghyz Republic.
The Kyrghyz 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.
Embassy of Pakistan has opened emergency helplines and responding to queries of students and their families. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Hassan Ali Zaigham has been in close contact with senior Kyrgyz authorities.
According to the Kyrgyz Health Ministry, four Pakistanis were provided first aid and discharged while one is under treatment for jaw injury.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister has directed the Foreign Office to monitor the situation round-the-clock and to fully assist and facilitate Pakistani nationals.
Kyrgyz envoy handed over demarche
Earlier in the day, Charge d’Affaires of the Kyrgyz Embassy in Pakistan Melis Moldaliev on Saturday was called to the Foreign Office for a demarche by Director General (ECO & CARs) Aizaz Khan, conveying the deep concerns of the Government of Pakistan about the reports of last night’s incidents against Pakistani students studying in Bishkek.
In a press statement issued in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson said “It was impressed on the Kyrgyz Charge d’affaires that the Kyrgyz government should take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani students and citizens residing in the Kyrgyz Republic.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hasan Zaigham, met with Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Imangaziev Almaz on Saturday to convey concerns of Pakistani nationals in Bishkek following violent attacks on international students, including Pakistanis.
The envoy’s meeting followed the Kyrgyz government’s confirmation that no Pakistani student had died in the recent violence.
The violence, triggered by a May 13 incident involving Egyptian students, erupted in Bishkek, affecting many foreigners, including Pakistani students.
During the meeting, Ambassador Zaigham emphasized the need for safeguarding Pakistani nationals. The Kyrgyz minister assured that local authorities have controlled the situation, which is now returning to normal.
Kyrgyz police are providing security to all hostels, with the matter being directly supervised by the Kyrgyz President. The government will take legal action against the perpetrators of the recent attacks.
All fourteen injured foreign nationals, including some Pakistanis, were discharged after first aid, with one Pakistani still receiving treatment.
Earlier, the embassy stated that the Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs had issued press releases confirming that the situation was under control.
The embassy also noted it hadn’t received any confirmed reports of Pakistani students’ deaths or rapes in Kyrgyzstan, despite social media claims.
However, there were reports of minor injuries to some Pakistani students.
‘Situation completely under control of security forces’
Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said that the law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic took prompt measures to arrest the people involved in the incident. “The situation is completely under the control of the security forces, and the safety of citizens and public order have been ensured. There were no serious injuries among those who took part in the incident. About 15 citizens applied to medical institutions for examination,” it was added.
CMU activated on Bishkek situation
On the other hand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated its Crisis Management Unit on the instruction of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
Pakistani nationals in the Kyrgyz Republic and their families may contact the unit at 051-9203108 and 051-9203094.
The Crisis Management Unit may also be contacted via email cmu1@mofa.gov.pk.
Earlier, Islamabad’s envoy to Bishkek urged students to stay indoors.
“In view of mob violence around student hostels in Bishkek, the embassy strongly advise all Pakistani students in Bishkek to stay indoors until the situation return to normal,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Hasan Zaigham wrote on X, formerly Twitter, early on Saturday.
“We are liaising with the local law enforcement authorities to ensure safety of our student fraternity,” he added.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, acknowledged the message received from the Pakistani embassy and confirmed that the embassy is in contact with Kyrgyz authorities. “The protection of Pakistanis is of utmost importance,” the spokesperson said.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman, said the embassy was in contact with the Kyrgyz authorities and has responded to hundreds of queries from distressed students and their families.
“There have been a number of incidents of mob violence against foreign students in Bishkek since last evening. According to the Kyrgyz press, the matter boiled over Friday due to sharing online of videos of a fight between Kyrgyz students and medical students from Egypt on 13th of May,” Pakistani embassy in Bishkek said in a statement.
“So far, a few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students including Pakistanis have been attacked. The hostels are inhabited by students from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh,” it said.
“There have been reports of light injuries to a number of students from Pakistan. Despite social media posts about alleged death and rape of Pakistani students, so far, we have not received any confirmed report,” the statement added.
“Pakistani female students are being harassed. Violence has occurred in the hostels, targeting both male and female students. Kyrgyz students are attacking foreign students across Bishkek,” said one Pakistani student.
PM says monitoring Bishkek situation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressing concerns over the situation of violence in Bishkek, directed Pakistan’s Ambassador in Kyrgyzstan to provide all necessary support to the Pakistani students.
“Deeply concerned over the situation of Pakistani students in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. I have directed Pakistan’s Ambassador to provide all necessary help and assistance,” the prime minister wrote on his X timeline.
According to Pakistan’s Embassy in Bishkek, foreign students living in Bishkek including those from Pakistan, were subjected to violence by locals in the aftermath of their earlier brawl with Egyptian nationals a few days ago.
“My office is also in touch with the Embassy and constantly monitoring the situation,” the prime minister added.
‘KP advisor urges govt to ensure students safety in Bishkek’
Barrister Saif, Advisor to KP Govt on Information, said that there are reports of three Pakistani students being killed in the attacks. According to Saif, there are 10,000 Pakistanis studying in Kyrgyzstan. He urged the government to protect them.
In a viral social media video, three students appear and one of them introducing himself as Mohammad Walid says that after a fight between locals and Egyptian students mobs attacked international students.
Walid said six students had been killed, though he did not specify their nationalities. He said police were not helping international students.
Most of Pakistani students including Walid are studying medicine in Kyrgyzstan.
According to some media reports, the attackers forcefully entered the hostels, broke the doors of the rooms and tortured and injured several students.
‘Incident that triggered mob attacks’
The embassy’s response followed violent mob attacks on international students in Bishkek, stemming from a harassment incident involving Egyptian female students on May 13.
Students also complained about the non-cooperation of the Pakistani embassy during the violence.
Local media in Kyrgyzstan reported a fight between local and foreign students broke out in a hostel on May 13, with three foreigners involved being detained.
On the evening of May 17, locals protested in Bishkek, demanding action against the foreigners involved.
The chief of Bishkek’s Interior Affairs Directorate requested an end to the protest, while the detained foreigners apologized. However, protesters refused to disperse, with more people gathering, leading to further detentions for violating public order.
The protestors dispersed after negotiations with the head of federal police.
