ISLAMABAD:
The Interior Ministry on Friday dismissed reports of “targeted deportations” of Pakistani nationals from the United Arab Emirates, calling such claims “bad fide” and part of a “vicious propaganda” campaign.
Some social media accounts claimed that around 1,200 Pakistanis had been deported from the United Arab Emirates.
A report published by The New York Times claimed that the United Arab Emirates had begun a large-scale expulsion of Pakistani workers.
The report said it interviewed 20 Pakistani Shiites, including eight businessmen based in the Emirates, who alleged that their Pakistani employees had been deported in recent weeks.
According to the report, the deportations came amid the Emirates’ “perceived discontent over Pakistan’s response to Iranian attacks” on the Gulf state, as Islamabad attempted to broker a peace deal between the United States and Iran.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Home Office said it had reviewed the relevant details and data and found the reports to be fabricated and misleading. “No deportations are being carried out from any country or specific sect from any country, including the United Arab Emirates,” the statement said.
The ministry clarified that the deportations, when they occurred, were part of a routine process carried out in accordance with the regulations and legal system of the host country, including cases involving violations of laws, excessive stay or illegal documentation.
He further stated that Pakistani nationals who met the visa and work requirements of the host countries continued to travel and obtain work visas for the UAE and other friendly countries “without prejudice”. The ministry said “fake news” and social media posts suggesting otherwise were “malicious and fabricated” and aimed to serve “ulterior motives.”
He added that any matter involving a Pakistani national abroad is taken up on a case-by-case basis with the concerned country through established FO channels.
