RIYADH, Dec 16: These women, 10 as per the report, came to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan to perform Umrah, and now are stuck in Jeddah with nothing to fend for themselves. Even their so-called mahrams have vanished with all their travel documents, including passports, leaving them in the lurch.

Reporting their predicament, the Jeddah-based Saudi Gazette said these women were living on charities outside a mosque on the pavement near the Pakistani consulate in Anakish district of Jeddah.

“We did not know this will happen to us, otherwise we would not have come here,” said Husna Bibi – one of the stranded women. “We went to the Pakistani consulate and requested the officials to send us home through Tarhil (deportation centre). But they are not helping us. They asked us to show our tickets and inquired about our mahram.”

“From where can we bring new tickets? We don t have any money,” said 50-year-old Aziz Mai, with tears in her eyes.

The abandoned women claim that instead of helping them, the consulate officials warned them against showing up again on the premises.