Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Sunday that no Pakistani citizens died in Bishkek mob violence.
Addressing a press conference flanked by Amir Muqam and Atta Tarar in Lahore, Dar said: "16 foreign students were injured, including four to five Pakistanis who are currently in hospitals.".
Dar criticised the "false propaganda" spread by a political party and mentioned that the Pakistani government had cancelled their visit to Kyrgyzstan at the request of the Kyrgyz foreign minister.
He assured that the government will cover the expenses of Pakistani students wishing to return home. "Today, 540 students are being brought back on three flights. The situation is under control, and the Pakistani embassy has confirmed the peace," Dar said.
Dar maintained: "Approximately 11,000 Pakistani students are studying in Bishkek, and those returning will be provided with full facilities.".
"The students wanting to leave Bishkek can register at the embassy. There is no alarming situation in Bishkek," he said.
Dar urged trust in Kyrgyz officials and their commitment to safety.
He conveyed that the Kyrgyz foreign minister had repeatedly assured that there was no need to panic and that those involved in the incidents were being punished. Some arrests had already been made.
Dar denounced the spread of false news about the deaths of Pakistani citizens and stressed the need to rise above "cheap" politics.
He pointed out that every country had elements with negative agendas, similar to those in Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz Foreign Minister noted that opposition parties were against foreign students, and the incident in Bishkek was due to a misunderstanding.
"Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is personally monitoring the situation, maintaining continuous contact with the Pakistani ambassador in Kyrgyzstan and the Kyrgyz authorities," said Dar.
He said: "An emergency unit has been established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle the situation."
– PM Shehbaz emphasises arrangements to bring back Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan –
Earlier today, PM Shehbaz directed the making of special arrangements to bring back the Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan in line with the Bishkek mob attack.
According to details, the prime minister held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hasan Ali Zaigham, instructing him to make the necessary arrangements to bring back Pakistani students.
A special plane will depart for Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in the evening and return tonight with 130 Pakistani students.
The premier had directed that all expenses for the special flight would be covered by the government of Pakistan.
He also ordered that contact be maintained with all Pakistani students and their families, prioritising the return of injured students and families residing in Kyrgyzstan.
Zaigham informed the prime minister about his meeting with the Kyrgyz deputy foreign minister, who assured that the situation was now "under control, with no new incidents of violence" reported since last night and all Pakistani and other foreign students were safe".
The premier emphasised that any Pakistani wishing to return should be provided with the necessary facilities "despite the situation stabilising."
