Russia deports 84 Pakistanis, over 100 stranded

All deported Pakistanis, who went for a recreational tour to Moscow, had valid travel documents, its organiser confirmed to Khaleej Times.

Today, Russian authorities deported 84 Pakistanis and around 100 Pakistanis are still stranded at Moscow airport for around 24 hours. The remaining Pakistanis are expected to be deported soon.

Out of total 188, it is estimated that 80 Pakistani businessmen hail from Karachi, 35 from Lahore and remaining from Islamabad and its neighbourhood.

Karachi-based mobile phone distributor M&P sent these Pakistanis on a recreational tour. A majority of Pakistanis got their visa from Russian Consulate in Karachi.

"We have spoken to Russian Consulate in Karachi and they said Pakistanis stranded in Moscow and deported from there have valid visa for Russia," Tauqir Raza Shah, head of administration and security for Muller & Phipps, told this scribe over phone from Karachi.

"I believe there is no reason to deport them as they have valid travel documents," Shah said. There are also around seven people from M&P, he informed.

All of them are mobile phone dealers in Pakistan, he said, adding that the company sent them for a one week recreational tour as they achieved their sales targets. In addition to mobile, M&P deals in various products distribution.

"Earlier this year, we sent a couple of people to Moscow for a recreational tour and they returned happily," he informed. This happened for the first time, he added.

Every year M&P send target achievers to different countries as sales incentives and this trip was also the same, he said. Established in 1912, M&P is one of the leading distributors in Pakistan.

More than 188 Pakistani businessmen arrived in Moscow and were stopped by immigration officials at the airport. This morning, Russian authorities have deported 84 Pakistanis to Istanbul. Around 17 Pakistanis reached Islamabad in the afternoon, according to a Pakistani TV channel.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah said the embassy came to know about the stranded Pakistanis at around 8:00 p.m last night, adding "We have raised the issue with Russian Foreign Ministry at the same time."

The Pakistan's Ambassador vowed to extend all out support to them. Sources said the Pakistani businessmen have been kept in a room at the airport without food and water.

abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com