No Pakistani confirmed dead in Kyrgyz capital mob violence

Foreign students including Pakistanis are being targeted by locals in the aftermath of a fight with Egyptian nationals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. As per news circulating on students WhatsApp groups, three students have died, many have been subjected to violence while 20-25 have been kidnapped but none of this has been confirmed by the Pakistani Embassy.

Many posts on social media had claimed multiple fatalities of Pakistani students.

However, the Pakistani embassy, citing the Kyrgyz government, has denied such rumours. However, it confirmed reports of “light injuries” to a number of students from Pakistan.

Videos of students in Bishkek subjected to mob violence emerged on Friday night, sending alarm bells ringing all over social media and mainstream media.

Pakistani medical students are in danger here in Bishkek , Kyrgyzstan.

There was a fight between Egyptians and local Kyrgyz people, but it's being wrongly blamed on Pakistani students.

Now, Kyrgyz locals are attacking Pakistani hostels where over 1000 students live in each… pic.twitter.com/odmOzJE0dV

— Faizan Shaikh (@FaiziWithKhan) May 17, 2024

A Facebook user posted about his sister being stranded in the hostel but later rescued.

Mohammad Abdullah, a Pakistani medical student in Bishkek, told Geo News that the dispute started due to the harassment of the Egyptian students by Kyrgyz students.

According to Muhammad Abdullah, riots broke out after Egyptian students reacted against Kyrgyz students. Since then, locals are attacking foreign students all over Bishkek.

Talking to ARY News student, Rizwan Gul, claimed that the mob that attacked the hostels of Pakistani students took 20-25 male students away while the female students were beaten up by them. He said that they have been sent the kidnapped students’ videos where they all were made to sit together on the floor. He also stressed that all students are hiding in a corner to protect themselves while they can see that local police are standing around the hostel but not rescuing them. Pakistani embassy has also just released an emergency number on X but no official can be seen on ground.

Rizwan also informed Geo News that the hostel of International Medical University houses 1000-1500 medical students at the moment.

Hasan Zaigham, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, took to X and urged all Pakistanis in the capital to “remain indoors until the situation return [sic] to normal”.

He added that his office is liaising with local authorities to ensure students’ safety and posted numbers for an emergency helpline.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said the reports of mob violence against Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek were “extremely concerning”.

However, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch shared a post from the Pakistani Embassy’s X account of emergency helpline numbers.
“Amb Zaigham & his team are available on these emergency numbers (both numbers on WhatsApp). They have responded to hundreds of queries by students and their families,” she wrote.

Suspects held by the local police

As case is registered against the suspects as per local media.

As many as 29 people were said to have been injured in the brawls with 15 people being taken to various hospitals — including a Pakistani national who suffered from a fractured jaw and was visited by Krgyz Minister of Health Alymkadyr Beishenaliev.

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The Kyrgyz media reported that the protesters earlier refused to disperse, instead more people gathered at the spot after which the authorities detained several of them for violating public order.

As per 24.kg, the situation was “stable” and “under control”.

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