Coronavirus: Pak Students Hit Out At Their Govt For Abandoning Them In Wuhan

Pakistan has refused to airlift and evacuate its citizens from Coronavirus-hit Wuhan despite several appeals from their families. The Pak Government cited “larger interests” of the region and the world.

Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to the PM Imran Khan on Health said: ”We believe it's in the interest of our loved ones in China (to stay there). It's in the larger interest of the region, the world, and the country that we don't evacuate them now.”

"It is better for them to stay there to ensure they are monitored and treated," he added.

Several Pak nationals took to social media and posted videos to make an appeal to the government, while some lashed out at the government for leaving its citizens in Wuhan in the lurch.

Pakistani student in Wuhan shows how Indian students are being evacuated by their govt. While Pakistanis are left there to die by the govt of Pakistan: pic.twitter.com/86LthXG593

— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) February 1, 2020

Its better to shift students from wuhan to another place in China, and if our govt is very poor and can't do anything just request chinese govt to do their screening for 15 days and then let them go to pakistan.#WuhanCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/Ip55OnhSko

— Aisha Bajwa (@AyeshaB53627449) February 1, 2020

Earlier Pakistan President Dr Arif Ali had cited religious grounds behind their decision to not evacuate its citizens from the virus-hit area.

Prophet's ﷺ directions regarding disease outbreaks are a good guide even 2day “If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it, but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place” (Bukhari & Muslim) Let us help those stuck there.

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) January 31, 2020

While some say Islamabad’s decision comes as a show of solidarity with its all-weather ally China at a time of global health emergency, however, those who are stuck there felt a pang of resentment.