FO confirms stranded pilgrims in Iraq arrive back home

Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said on Saturday that Pakistan’s consulate in Iraq has successfully managed to send all stranded Pakistani pilgrims back to the country, Radio Pakistan reported.Earlier, the FO spokesperson shared a statement from the Embassy of Pakistan in Baghdad about efforts that were undertaken to resolve the issue. The embassy officials had reached the airport after finding out that 120 Zaireen had missed their flights due to late arrival to the airport or non-possession of their passports.

"With the embassy's intensive efforts, 69 Zaireen were put on the next available flight" while 5 were put on a later flight, read the statement.

Further 46 Zaireen belonged to a group whose group leader, in possession of their passports, arrived after their flight had departed from the airport. According to the statement, the group leader Rizvi later disappeared and left the Zaireen stranded without their tickets or passports.

The embassy said that they had provided the stranded group of Zaireen with food, water and medicine. Rizvi had been contacted and "pressed" to arrange for air tickets as well as accommodation for the Zaireen.

The FO spokesperson's tweet from today confirmed that all 120 individuals have now returned to Pakistan.

In a tweet on Saturday, the foreign office spokesperson said, “an inquiry is being initiated against the tour operators whose inefficiency led to the problem for the Pakistani Zaireen.”
Dr Faisal appreciated Ambassador Sajid Bilal and his team for their efforts on this occasion, and also welcomed the Zaireen back to the country.
In October, 20 stranded tourists, including a foreigner, were rescued in a Pakistan Army operation from Deosai, near Skardu, according to Radio Pakistan.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the tourists were trapped owing to heavy snowfall were searched and rescued by the Pakistan Army Aviation Helicopters.
The Commander of the Force Command Northern Area also met the stranded persons after the completion of the operation.
Dr Faisal appreciated Ambassador Sajid Bilal and his team for their efforts on this occasion, and also welcomed the Zaireen back to the country
In October, 20 stranded tourists, including a foreigner, were rescued in a Pakistan Army operation from Deosai, near Skardu, according to Radio Pakistan.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the tourists were trapped owing to heavy snowfall were searched and rescued by the Pakistan Army Aviation Helicopters.
The Commander of the Force Command Northern Area also met the stranded persons after the completion of the operation.