BAGHDAD: Over 50 Pakistani pilgrims have been stranded in Iraq after their passports were reportedly misplaced by airport administration.
The pilgrims, who traveled to Iraq for the Chehlum, have been stuck at Baghdad airport since 4 a.m. due to the failure of the Iraqi staff to return their passports. Their scheduled flight to Islamabad, which was supposed to depart at 9 a.m., could not accommodate them because the passports, which had been collected by the airport staff upon their arrival, have gone missing.
The stranded Pakistani citizens have appealed to the Pakistani government for assistance in their return. They are now seeking urgent help to resolve the situation and make their way back home.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik addressed the situation and dismissed reports suggesting that 50,000 Pakistanis were missing in Iraq. He clarified that there had been a misunderstanding and that the claim of such a large number of Pakistanis being unaccounted for was inaccurate.
“The reports of 50,000 Pakistani nationals going missing in Iraq are false and misleading,” Salik stated.
He emphasized that the actual issue was the delay in returning the passports, not the large-scale disappearance of Pakistani citizens. The minister urged the media to avoid spreading incorrect information and reassured that the situation was being handled appropriately.
Efforts are underway to resolve the passport issue and ensure the safe return of the stranded pilgrims to Pakistan.
