Special plane arrives in Quetta with 171 Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan

QUETTA: A special plane organised by the Balochistan government arrived in Quetta bringing back 171 Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan on Thursday.

The Chief Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti confirmed that among the returning students, 95 belonged to Balochistan. The special plane was sent on the directions of the Baloch CM to bring back Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan.

Read more: Parents demand immediate repatriation of Pakistani students from Bishkek

The CM stated that all the returning students would be guests of the Balochistan government for the night. He said that arrangements were made to send students belonging to other provinces to Islamabad the following morning.

The Baloch CM mentioned that there were still six or seven more students from Quetta who remained in Kyrgyzstan. He reassured that the situation in Kyrgyzstan was “returning to normal”.

Sarfraz Bugti also indicated that he will consult with his cabinet to discuss the future of returned students’ education.

Upon arrival, the students and their parents were “grateful” to the chief minister for his efforts in helping bring them back home safely.

Thousands of Pakistani medical students in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan were attacked by locals following a scuffle between Egyptian students and local men on May 13. The violence erupted when locals reportedly broke into the hostel room of an Egyptian girl at Avicenna University, leading to a confrontation.

The locals then formed a mob and targeted foreign students, primarily Pakistanis. They broke into foreign students’ hostels and severely beat up male students while harassing female students.

Read more: Thousands of Pakistani students attacked by locals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Videos circulating online showed locals beating students while people laid injured on the ground. The Kyrgyz army was eventually called in, and streets leading to universities and hostels were cordoned off.

Kyrgyzstan hosts more than 12,000 Pakistani students, primarily studying medicine.Parents demand immediate repatriation of Pakistani students from Bishkek