Five Pakistanis injured in Kyrgyzstan mob violence, students ask government to evacuate
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan on Saturday departed from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, after five Pakistani medical students were injured in mob violence against foreigners enrolled in various universities on Friday night. They asked their governments to make evacuation arrangements.
The violence began after an online video was published showing a May 13 brawl between Kyrgyz and Egyptian medical students, according to a Facebook post by Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in the Central Asian city. It is said that
The mob mainly targeted medical university dormitories and private residences of international students, including Pakistanis, in Bishkek. According to the Pakistan Embassy, around 10,000 Pakistani students are enrolled in various educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan, of which nearly 6,000 live and study in Bishkek.
Rana Taha, a final year medical student in Kyrgyzstan, told Arab News by phone that he and other Pakistani students were stuck in an apartment without food or water.
“We are desperately seeking help from the embassy and local authorities, but they only advise us to stay indoors,” he said. “Political forces are patrolling the streets as the situation is still not under control.”
“Local residents attacked our apartment twice earlier in the day, but fortunately they did not break in,” he continued. “We appeal to the embassy to evacuate us to a safe location or arrange for a safe flight home.”
Nisar Ali, a fourth-year medical student from Peshawar, said local police seemed to be “supporting the rioters” rather than stopping them.
“They are [rioters] “We do not discriminate against international students,” he said. “It started among Egyptian students and locals, but now it attacks any foreigner, whether they are Indians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Bangladeshis or nationals of other countries. All the students were injured. Several of their friends who lived in the hostel were attacked and seriously injured.
Ali said the violence began around 10pm on Friday, but the Pakistani embassy did not answer his calls until the morning.
“I live in an apartment with some Pakistani friends,” he added. “We turned off all the lights and locked ourselves in. We have nothing to eat and we can’t go out because going out means being attacked.”
He noted that when the military arrived in Bishkek, some peace was restored, but students still did not feel safe.
“We appeal to the Pakistani government to evacuate safely,” he said.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hassan Zaigham, confirmed in a telephone interview with Arab News that five Pakistani students were injured.
“One of them has been admitted to a local hospital with a jaw injury, while the other four were released after first aid,” he said.
“No Pakistani has been killed or raped in the violence,” he said, refuting rumors on social media. “The situation is now under control as the Bishkek authorities have dispersed all the criminals.”
The ambassador said he advised Pakistani students to stay indoors and contact the embassy in case of emergency.
“We are in contact with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of our students,” he added.
However, Muhammad Waleed, a final year medical student, said that despite being instructed to stay indoors, “Despite numerous calls and messages, we have received no response from the Pakistani embassy.” “I didn’t receive any support,” he said.
“I, along with dozens of other Pakistani students, have taken refuge in the office of a human rights organization here in Bishkek,” Waleed said by phone. “Most of the students are still confined to hostels and apartments.”
He acknowledged that the situation had improved since paramilitary forces were deployed in the city, but said the situation was still fluid.
“We urge the Pakistani government to immediately arrange for their safe return, as the situation could escalate again if the troops leave,” he added.
Raj Kumar, a resident of Pakistan’s Talparkar district, told Arab News that his sister is a medical student in Bishkek, adding that students in Bishkek suspect that violence has resumed tonight. .
“Girls, including my sisters, are scared of this situation,” he said. “We need to move them to a safer location.”
“We want to know what course of action the embassy in Pakistan and especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is considering,” he added.
Karachi resident Tariq Aziz also said his daughter was “trapped with three friends” in an apartment opposite the hostel where she was attacked last night.
“When we spoke a while ago, my daughter said that she had only received one message from the Pakistani embassy telling her not to leave her apartment. There is no guarantee that we will not destroy the door of their apartment just as we destroyed the door,” he told Arab News.
“It has been a long time since the violence started. Instead of sending a message, the Pakistani embassy should ensure the safety of the girls and take them safely to the airport,” he added.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry has summoned Kyrgyzstan’s top diplomat in the country and handed him a letter of protest following the mob violence.
“The Kyrgyz chargé d’affaires impressed upon him that the Kyrgyz government should take all measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistan’s students and people,” the ministry said in a statement.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the Pakistani embassy had responded to hundreds of inquiries from students and their families. She said the country’s envoy and his team can be contacted on emergency contact numbers +996555554476 and +996507567667.
“If you are unable to reach our number due to phone congestion, please contact us via message or WhatsApp,” Baloch told X.
The Pakistani embassy earlier reported that it had been in touch with more than 250 students and their families in Pakistan, and the violence appeared to be directed at all foreign students, and was not limited to Pakistanis. he added.
It said this is a developing situation and that it would notify the Pakistani community in Kyrgyzstan and their relatives in Pakistan of any further developments.
