By Muhammad Luqman
Over 300 Pakistani nationals who were stranded in Malaysia for months were brought back home by a special flight of national carrier, PIA on Wednesday evening.
The repatriated passengers had been lodged in Malaysia after they served their sentences while in prison, but could not fly back home due to cancellation of direct flights between the two countries after space closure by India in February due to tensions on the Line of Control.
The footage currently viral on on the internet showed the returning Pakistanis expressing joy by chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’, ‘Imran Khan Zindabad’ and ‘PIA Zindabad’ over Prime Minister Imran Khan’s orders to bring the stuck Pakistanis back home.
The premier had earlier ordered for a special PIA flight to bring back the passengers from Malaysia on Tuesday.
The passengers had faced imprisonment over for minor offenses such as visa or residence permits getting expired and had completed their sentences in Malaysia.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari who recieved the passengers at Islamabad Airport said that PM Khan had ordered the Baitul Mal and the Foreign Office to release Rs40 Million and Rs10 million for the purpose of bringing them back.
Foreign Office in a statement said that PM Imran Khan had made the decision as he wanted them to celebrate Eid-ul- Fitr with their families.
In a tweet, the national carrier stated they were proud of their crew who flew the special flight and “brought home 300 plus Pakistanis who were stranded”.
“PIA is honored to perform its duties on the instruction of PM Imran Khan,” the tweet added.
