Update on alleged deportation of Pakistani workers from UAE
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
ISLAMABAD – Claims circulating on social media regarding the alleged expulsion of Pakistani nationals from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been rejected as false with reports emphasizing that any actions taken by authorities are carried out in accordance with the law. The discussion emerged after an international news agency published a report related to alleged deportations involving Pakistani citizens in the UAE. The report prompted widespread debate online and generated various reactions from social media users. While UAE authorities have not issued an official statement on the matter, a number of Emirati social media commentators said reports suggesting a sectarian dimension to the issue were inaccurate. Analysts said laws and security regulations in the UAE apply equally to all residents regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, or sect. They stressed that any enforcement measures are based on legal and regulatory requirements. They also pointed to statements attributed to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, which reportedly indicated that any action taken against Pakistani citizens in the UAE could be linked to visa regulations, security concerns, or compliance with local laws. Ministry of Interior’s Stance Last month, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has taken notice of speculative reporting in sections of media especially social media about targeted deportations of Pakistani nationals from brotherly Islamic country of UAE. “Having gone through the details and data it is necessary to state that all such reporting is malafide and part of vicious propaganda by vested interest. No country or sect specific deportations from any country including UAE are being carried out,” it clarified. “Deportations, if any, are a routine process in line with the host country regulations and legal system, violations of their laws and overstay / illegal documentation”. “At the same time Pakistani nationals, having fulfilled host country visa and work based requirements continu