ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pilgrims stranded at an airport in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad for the past four days safely returned to the country on Saturday.
The Pakistani embassy in the country arranged for their trip back home, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal announced on Twitter.
Faisal added that an investigation has been launched against the tour operator responsible for the incident.
“Good news — our Embassy in Iraq has successfully managed to send all our stranded Zaireen to Pakistan. Welcome home. Inquiry being initiated against the tour operator whose inefficiency led to the problem for Pakistanis – kudos to Amb Sajid Bilal and his team,” he tweeted.
Good news – Our Embassy in Iraq has successfully managed to send all our stranded Zaireen to Pakistan. Welcome home. Inquiry being initiated against the tour operator whose inefficiency led to the problem for Pakistanis – kudos to Amb Sajid Bilal and his team.
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) November 10, 2018
On Thursday, the pilgrims stranded in Iraq had appealed to the government for assistance.
Appealing to the government for assistance, the pilgrims had said they did not have money for food or to buy return tickets.
“We are facing difficulties as Shah Khurasan travel agent did not hand us our tickets and passports on time,” the pilgrims had said. “The elderly and children are being forced to sleep on floors in the cold and several have fallen sick,” they had lamented.
