Bishkek (Web Desk): Pakistan's Ambassador to Kyrgyz Republic, Hassan Zaigham on Saturday said that the Pakistan's Embassy is actively working to address the issues faced by Pakistani nationals following the recent mob violence in Bishkek.
He said this in a video statement regarding the current situation of Pakistani students in the Kyrgyz Republic and the measures undertaken by the Pakistani Embassy to support them.
The envoy said that the Pakistan Mission in Bishkek has responded to over 500 phone calls received on emergency telephone numbers so far.
He noted that certain local extremist elements have targeted hostels and private residences of international students in Bishkek.
According to the Kyrgyz government, 14 foreigners have sustained injuries in the mob violence.
Hassan Zaigham informed that a Pakistani student named Shahzaib is presently receiving treatment at Kyrgyz National Hospital and is considered to be out of danger.
"Kyrgyz authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter, and a few suspects have also been apprehended," he said.
Ambassador Hassan Zaigham urged the Pakistani community in Kyrgyzstan to refrain from believing fake news circulating on social media platforms.
He emphasized that Pakistani nationals in Kyrgyzstan and their families should promptly contact Pakistan's Embassy in case of any emergency, utilizing the phone numbers provided on the social media accounts and website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Hassan Ali Zaigham strongly raised the concerns with Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Imangaziev Almaz of the Pakistani nationals, particularly the large number of affected Pakistani students and their families, about previous night’s violence in Bishkek.
He urged the Kyrgyz government to prioritize the safeguarding of Pakistani nationals.
According to a press release issued by the Foreign Office (FO), at the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s ambassador met the Kyrgyz deputy foreign minister in connection with the incidents of violence in Bishkek.
The Kyrgyz deputy foreign minister informed that their authorities had controlled the situation which was now back to normal.
He said that the Kyrgyz police was providing security to all the hostels and the matter was being directly supervised by the Kyrgyz President.
Deputy FM Almaz assured the ambassador that the government of Kyrgyzstan would take legal action against the perpetrators yesterday’s attack.
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.
As per reports, some hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students including those of Pakistanis were attacked.
He shared that fourteen foreign nationals including some Pakistanis were discharged after first aid while one Pakistani national remained under treatment.