A special flight carrying 140 Pakistani students from the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek landed at the Lahore airport late Saturday night, following violent attacks against foreign nationals in the city this week after a dispute between locals and migrants that led to evacuation requests.
The first batch of Pakistani students arrived in the country after violence erupted in Bishkek on Friday night. Videos of a brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian students went viral online, prompting furious mobs to target hostels of medical universities and private lodgings of international students, including Pakistanis, in the city.
According to official statistics, around 10,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in various educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan, with nearly 6,000 residing and studying in Bishkek.
Many students reported that the Pakistan embassy had advised them to stay indoors, though they had run out of food and water. Some even expressed fears that rioting might resume at night and requested evacuation by the authorities.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the students as they arrived at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and inquired about their well-being. Naqvi asked the students about the tragic incident in Bishkek and their problems.
While the interior ministry stated that 140 students had arrived from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan’s state broadcaster PTV News reported that 180 students had arrived in Lahore. Naqvi assured that Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan are the “children of the nation” and those from cities other than Lahore would be provided free transport.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and another cabinet member, Amir Maqam, to travel to Bishkek on Sunday to address the situation there. They will meet with senior government officials in the Kyrgyz capital to ensure medical treatment for injured students and review arrangements for their return.
The country’s ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hasan Zaigham, confirmed that five Pakistani medical students had been injured in the mob attack. He stated that one student was admitted to a local hospital with a jaw injury, while the other four were released after receiving first aid. Zaigham also clarified that no Pakistani was killed or raped in the violence and that the situation is now under control.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry summoned and handed a note of protest to Kyrgyzstan’s top diplomat in response to the violence against Pakistani students in Bishkek. The ministry emphasized the need for the Kyrgyz government to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani students and citizens.
Overall, the safe return of Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan remains a top priority for the Pakistani government, with plans for additional flights to bring more students back to Pakistan in the coming days.