ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam will leave for Bishkek tonight to help Pakistani Students after harrowing attacks.
Minister is departing to Central Asian nation at the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who ordered minister to meet stranded Pakistani students in Bishkek.
Federal Minister will oversee the rescue efforts for Pakistani students in Kyrgyz Republic and to extend them support and assistance. He will further hold meetings with Pakistani students, address their concerns, and ensure their well-being amidst the ongoing situation.
Pakistani Students, who faced brutal attacks in Bishkek, are seeking government intervention for evacuation after violent mobs targeted them in hostels. Students enrolled in various medical universities suffered injuries and urged government to arrange for their evacuation from Bishkek.
The mob violence started after clips of brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian medical students from May 13 were spread purportedly. The mobs targeted hostels and private residences of international students, including Pakistanis, in Bishkek. Pakistan embassy said around 10,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in various Kyrgyzstan institutes, with around 6,000 residing in capital Bishkek.
Many of the students were also trapped in their hostels and private accommodation without food and water. Students lamented no response from embassy and local authorities for help.
The frightened students are now looking to move back, saying local police were aiding the rioters rather than stopping them.
The embassy advised Pakistani students to stay indoors and contact them in emergencies while coordinating with local law enforcement to ensure student safety.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s foreign ministry summoned Bishkek’s top diplomat in Pakistan and issued demarche, urging Kyrgyz government to ensure the safety of Pakistani students and citizens.
PM Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep concern over the violence targeting foreign students in Kyrgyz Republic, emphasized that the Pakistani Embassy in Bishkek must ensure the provision of optimal medical care for injured Pakistani students.
He also stressed that government officials should facilitate the immediate return of those students who wish to return to Pakistan, covering the expenses.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s Embassy should provide every possible support for maintaining constant communication between students and their families.
