International
Back from Bishkek, horrified Pakistani students say they were 'abandoned' by Sharif government
Islamabad, May 20 (IANS) Sharing their horrific tales of survival after returning home via special flights from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistani students have slammed the Shehbaz Sharif government for making false claims about ensuring their safe return.
As they shared shocking details of mob attacks, threats and injuries that they suffered at the hands of the protesting locals in Bishkek last week, the visibly shaken and traumatised students slammed the Pakistani embassy in the country and the government for making tall claims about acting swiftly on the matter.
The government personnel who were present at the airport on Sunday to receive the returning students faced serious and aggressive criticism from the students, who openly voiced their concerns and termed the claims being made by the government as nothing but “blatant lies”.
“The government claims that it is bearing all costs of bringing back students from Kyrgyzstan via special flights. I want to tell this clearly that it is a complete and blatant lie. We have paid fares for tickets ourselves,” said one of the Pakistani students outside the Lahore airport.
Most of the 600 students, who have been repatriated to Pakistan, also stated that the Pakistani embassy in Bishkek did nothing to ensure their safety.
“Me and my other friends were taken to the Bishkek airport by some considerate locals, who knew us for years and wanted to help us. Some of our friends who hired taxis were also attacked on their way by the locals. The government’s actions were nowhere to be seen. We were left to survive on our own,” said a student.
Another student, whose forehead was covered with bandages, said that the Pakistani government and its embassy in Bishkek has agreed to the Kyrgyzstan government’s claim that things are back to normal in the country’s capital. They insist that the situation is still tense and there are many students who want to leave amid increasing threats by the locals.
“The government is lying about the number of injured students. It is trying to cover up the entire situation there. We and many other foreign nationals are still receiving threats through social media. All those who were tortured and beaten up in the mob attack, were not even given medical attention. You see the bandages on my head and arm… These have been done by my friends and not by a medical officer,” he said.
“Our universities have threatened to expel us if we do not stop giving interviews or share our ordeals on social media. Locals there who have seen our videos have been sending us death threats. There are dozens others who were attacked and injured badly in the mob attack. Pakistani embassy officials are nowhere to be seen. We even had to pay for our flight back home. We felt like we had been abandoned by our own government,” he added.
The government on the other hand, claims that the Kyrgyzstan government has assured that the situation is back to normal, hinting towards an expected halt to the special flights designated to bring back Pakistani students from the country.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has said that he held detailed discussion with his counterpart in Kyrgyzstan, who has assured and confirmed that the situation is under control.
“Our two-member delegation was going to Kyrgyzstan. But we have been requested by the Kyrgyzstan government that the visit was not required as the situation is under control there,” he said.
However, the government’s claims have been rubbished by the students who continue to express their anger over the neglect they have suffered at the hands of the Kyrgyzstan police and the Pakistani government.
The mob violence erupted in Bishkek after a viral video showing a dispute between locals and some foreign students from Egypt, escalated into a social media call for attacks on foreign students on May 13.
On May 17, hundreds of locals attacked hostels and residences of foreign students including male and female students from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
–IANS
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Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of Singapore’s founding father, the late Lee Kuan Yew, announced on Tuesday that he is now a political refugee in the United Kingdom after seeking asylum from the British government “as a last resort.”
“I remain a Singapore citizen and hope that someday it will be safe to return home,” Lee stated in a Facebook post, as reported by Channel News Asia (CNA).
Citing what he described as the Singapore government’s “attacks” against him, Lee, who is the younger brother of former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, revealed that he sought asylum protection in 2022.
Lee Hsien Yang and his late sister, Lee Wei Ling, who passed away earlier this month, have been in conflict with their brother Lee Hsien Loong over the fate of their father’s home following his death in 2015, resulting in a public dispute that has estranged the siblings.
In an interview with the UK-based newspaper The Guardian, Lee alleged that a “campaign of persecution” compelled him to seek asylum in Britain.
In response to his claims, the Singapore government stated that there is “no basis” for his allegations of “a campaign of persecution” or other assertions regarding political repression in the country.
“Singapore’s judiciary is impartial and makes decisions independently. This is why Singaporeans have a high level of trust in the judiciary,” a government spokesperson remarked.
The spokesperson added that there are no legal restrictions preventing Lee and his wife, lawyer Lee Suet Fern, from returning to Singapore. “They are and have always been free to return to Singapore,” the spokesperson said.
Lee and his wife have been outside of Singapore since 2022, having opted not to attend a scheduled police interview regarding potential offenses related to providing false evidence in judicial proceedings concerning their father’s will and the family home.
Lee and his late sister, who had been living at the property, alleged they felt threatened while trying to fulfill their father’s wish to demolish the house. They also accused their elder brother, former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, of abusing his governmental influence to advance his personal agenda.
Kazan, Russia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit.
During the meeting, President Putin remarked, “I recall our meeting in July, where we had productive discussions on various issues. We’ve also spoken over the phone several times. I am very grateful you accepted the invitation to come to Kazan. Today, we will attend the BRICS Summit’s opening ceremony, followed by dinner.”
PM Modi responded by expressing his appreciation, saying, “I sincerely thank you for your friendship, warm welcome, and hospitality. It’s a great pleasure to visit such a beautiful city as Kazan for the BRICS Summit. India shares deep historical ties with this city, and the opening of our new embassy here will further strengthen these connections.”
Vientiane (Laos), Aug 22 (IANS) Representatives from the Lao government and development partners have attended a conference here titled “Climate Change and Nutrition in Laos: Intersections and Interventions” to discuss the impact of climate change on nutrition in the Southeast Asia country and potential solutions.
Speaking at the conference, deputy director general of the Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion under the Lao Ministry of Health Viengkhan Phixay, said, “We gather to address a critical and interwoven issue: the impact of climate change on nutrition and how we can work together to tackle these challenges,” Xinhua news agency reported.
The Lao government is actively engaged in this endeavor, with numerous policies and initiatives aimed at addressing both climate change and nutrition, Lao National Television reported on Thursday.
“By leveraging the Scaling Up Nutrition network in Laos, which is led by the government, and supported by civil society, donors, and the United Nations, we have a robust platform to tackle the negative impacts of climate change while improving nutrition and overall health for everyone in Laos,” Viengkham said at the conference held on Monday.
The conference featured a series of presentations that not only detailed evidence-based research but also introduced innovative tools for measuring and enhancing nutrition under the impact of climate change.
The conference stressed the critical need for integrated approaches to tackle the intertwined challenges of climate change and nutrition, and setting the stage for impactful future collaborations.
–IANS
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Baghdad, Aug 22 (IANS) A civilian was killed while seven others were injured on Thursday in a tribal shootout in Iraq’s holy Shiite province of Najaf, according to a local security source.
The shootout erupted in the early hours between armed men from the local tribe in the al-Zarga area in northern Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad, a local police officer told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
The clash resulted in the killing of an Iraqi civilian and the injury of seven others, including three Iranian Shiite pilgrims, the source added.
A joint force from the Interior Ministry’s emergency response division and Najaf provincial police arrested 53 gunmen from both sides of the shootout and seized weapons and ammunition, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
It added that search operations are ongoing to locate additional gunmen and weapons, with more details to be released later.
The incident took place as numerous pilgrims traveled to the city of Karbala to observe Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D.
Typically, these pilgrims also visit Najaf as part of their journey to Karbala.
–IANS
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Dhaka, Aug 22 (IANS) Bangladesh’s interim government has sought $1 billion from the World Bank as budgetary support.
The call came from the country’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan’s meeting with Abdoulaye Seck, the World Bank’s Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, in Dhaka on Wednesday.
He made the plea as the ministry owes more than 2 billion dollars to suppliers in import costs of power and energy, Xinhua news agency reported.
Khan mentioned that the interim government, which was formed with many pressing mandates, is due to settle a $2 billion debt left by the previous government in the power sector.
He said they have already suspended activities under the much-criticized Quick Enhancement of Electricity and Energy Supply Act 2010 and abolished the government’s power to set energy prices without any public hearing.
On August 5, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted from her country and power, ending her rule since January 2009.
This event was seen as a massive escalation, with what initially started as student’s protests and resulted in a major crisis in Bangladesh.
Earlier on August 8, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government.
–IANS
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