Reports of Pakistanis Being Expelled from the Middle East Spark Alarm; National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Declares the Matter Sensitive

Foreign Ministry officials told the committee that the issue of Pakistani workers being expelled from Middle Eastern countries was extremely sensitive. Ambassadors from the countries concerned also briefed the committee during the meeting. At the request of Foreign Ministry officials, the meeting of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee was held in-camera to allow a detailed briefing on sensitive matters.

Islam Times: Concern was expressed at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee over reports that Pakistani workers were being expelled from Bahrain and several other Middle Eastern countries. At the request of Foreign Ministry officials, the meeting was subsequently held in-camera.

According to sources, the meeting of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee was chaired by Committee Chairperson Hina Rabbani Khar. During the meeting, Hina Rabbani Khar said that reports were emerging about Pakistani workers being expelled from Bahrain and several other Middle Eastern countries.

The committee chairperson said there were also reports that Pakistanis were being expelled on the basis of their sectarian or religious affiliations, describing the matter as extremely alarming. She said that if the relevant Pakistani missions wanted to provide an in-camera briefing on the issue, the committee should be informed. Hina Rabbani Khar also expressed displeasure over the incomplete briefing provided to the committee, saying that Parliament and parliamentary committees should be taken seriously.

She also raised an objection over the absence of the Foreign Secretary, saying that if the Foreign Secretary had to go to the Prime Minister’s House, the committee should have been informed in advance. She said that suddenly informing the committee that the Foreign Secretary would not attend the meeting was not an appropriate procedure.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry officials told the committee that the issue of Pakistani workers being expelled from the Middle East was extremely sensitive. Ambassadors from the countries concerned also briefed the committee during the meeting. At the request of Foreign Ministry officials, the meeting of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee was held in-camera to facilitate a detailed briefing on sensitive matters.