ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Federal Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Amir Muqam will depart for Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek to support Pakistani students after foreign students were subjected to mob violence late on Friday night.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed Ishaq Dar and Amir Muqam to visit Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Both the ministers will depart for Bishkek today morning via a special aircraft.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will hold meetings with senior government officials in Bishkek and ensure the provision of medical facilities to the injured students. They will also review matters related to the repatriation of Pakistani students.
The Prime Minister has been monitoring the situation throughout the day today and remained in contact with the Pakistani Ambassador in Bishkek.
Despite the situation being under control, it has been decided to send this delegation to Bishkek to ensure necessary cooperation and facilitation for Pakistani students.
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.
Kyrgyz police said they had mobilised forces in Bishkek yesterday to quell the violence, in which hundreds of Kyrgyz men attacked buildings housing foreign students, including Pakistanis.
According to the Kyrgyz health ministry, 29 people were injured in the violence. The country’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, said 14 foreigners were discharged from hospitals after treatment.
An earlier statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said PM Shehbaz ordered Amir Muqam to go to Bishkek immediately to provide assistance and support to Pakistani students.
“Amir Muqam will meet Pakistani students, listen to their problems and ensure that Pakistani students do not face any kind of difficulties in the current situation,” the Prime Minister said.
He added that the embassy should ensure support of the injured Pakistani students with the best treatment facilities. The embassy “will not leave the sons and daughters of Pakistan alone in difficult times”, PM Shehbaz said.
He further said that officials should ensure the immediate return of those students who wanted to return to Pakistan at the government’s expense.
PM Shehbaz earlier said his office was in touch with the Pakistani embassy and “constantly monitoring the situation”.
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