AL HUDAYDAH:
First group of 600 Pakistani nationals arrived safe and whole at Al Hudaydah after eight long hours of fearsome journey from Yemeni city of Sana’a, according to sources.
The sources said departure of the plane meant to fly home the trapped Pakistanis has been delayed by one day.
The convoy of Pakistani expatriates was intercepted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who later allow them to leave Sanaa on Saturday after checking necessary documents.He said that Pakistani envoy held talks with the Houthis and requested them to allow the convoy to proceed.
Shah Zain, another Pakistani expatriate, said that 30 families are still stuck back in Aden—the main flashpoint. “We are taking shelter in one home and unable to contact the Pakistani embassy,” he said, appealing for help. Zain said that there was a curfew in Aden.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif contacted the Pakistan Embassy in Yemen and directed the Ambassador to take all measures possible to ensure safety and security of each and every member of the Pakistani community till their evacuation from the country.
Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary convened an emergency press briefing late Saturday and informed media about the efforts undertaken by the government of Pakistan meant to bring back the marooned Pakistani expatriates at the earliest.
He also apprised the media person that a high level delegation of Pakistan’s government officials will be sent to Riyadh to assess the war situation in Yemen.
The foreign secretary also mentioned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s phone talk with Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz.