PESHAWAR: The relatives of the Pakistanis stranded in Yemen are worried about their safety, urging the government to take effective steps for their evacuation.

Sardar Gul, an elderly resident of Choti Lal Kurthi, said that his daughter along with her husband and two children was stranded in the war-torn Aden area of Yemen. They were unable to move owing to fighting, he added.

“It is duty of Prime Minister Mina Nawaz Sharif to make sure safe arrival of the Pakistanis first and then take whatever step he deems fit in the interest of the country. My daughter and her husband are teachers in Yemen. They have been there for the last two years,” Mr Gul said.

Osama, a resident of Shami Road area, said that seven members of his family were stranded in the violence-hit area of Yemen. “We have no contact with them to know if they are safe or not,” he added. He said that the ambassador concerned had also closed the embassy and left for Pakistan. “Now there is no one to help the people of our country,” he said.

Mr Osama said that the rulers were duty bound to secure lives of Pakistani citizens and then announce its policy in support of Saudi Arabia.

Amin Khan, who arrived recently from Saudi Arabia, said that Pakistanis were facing severe hardships in Saudi Arabia and the labourers were forced to leave the country as early as possible.

Ask govt to ensure their safe evacuation before announcing support for Saudi Arabia

“The employers are forcing our people to pay thousands of Riyal annually. They force them to leave the country despite the fact that maximum of the laboureres possess documents for stay and work in the country,” he added.

All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement chairperson Haroon Sarb Diyal also expressed reservations over the government’s decision to support Saudi Arabia before evacuation of Pakistanis from Yemen.

“I am representing minorities and have to raise voice for our Pakistanis because they are also a minority in Yemen,” Mr Diyal said. He asked the government to take immediate steps for protection and evacuation of the stranded Pakistanis.

Meanwhile, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has opposed the government’s decision to take part in the war against Yemen.

“It will be better to bring the issue to the parliament and play effective role for mediation between Yemen and Saudi Arabia,” he said and asked the government to ensure safe return of stranded Pakistanis from Yemen at the earliest.

In a statement here on Sunday, Mr Sherpao said that Saudi Arabia was time tested friend of Pakistan as it always extended support to them during natural disasters and sanctions but it would be better for the government to play a role for mediation and restoration of peace in the Middle East.

“Our security forces are already overstretched due to internal law and order issues and on different borders and the government’s decision to send troops abroad will create more problems,” he said and added that the war among Islamic countries was a matter of serious concern for the entire Muslim Ummah.

Mr Sherpao also mentioned the negative impacts of the war in Iraq, Libya and Syria and said that Arab League needed to play a role in resolution of the internal issues to avoid conflict because it would increase tension in Middle East.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2015

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