Dubai
Hundreds of Pakistani Shi’ite Muslims deported from the United Arab Emirates during the ongoing Iran conflict have returned home without their belongings, savings, or employment, sparking serious concern among rights groups and community leaders.
In villages across Pakistan’s rural Chakwal district, families are struggling to cope after the sudden return of relatives who had spent years working in the United Arab Emirates. Many of the deportees say they were removed abruptly, leaving behind personal possessions, bank savings, and stable jobs that supported their families back home.
According to information reviewed by Reuters, visa status records and flight details were verified for 103 Pakistani nationals who identified themselves as Shi’ite Muslims deported from the UAE. Reuters also interviewed 24 individuals who all claimed they were unable to recover their luggage or access their financial savings before being placed on flights to Pakistan along with dozens of other deportees.
A database compiled by the Pakistani Shi’ite political organization Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen reportedly lists around 7,500 Pakistani Shi’ites deported from the Gulf nation since February 28, the date when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The organization’s spokesperson, Mohsin Abidi, stated that the actual number of deportations could be significantly higher.
Community leaders claim the pace of deportations increased sharply after Iran responded to military attacks by launching missile and drone strikes targeting the UAE. The growing regional conflict has heightened tensions across the Gulf and raised concerns about the treatment of Shi’ite populations living and working in the region.
However, the exact criteria used by UAE authorities to identify and deport the individuals remain unclear. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on questions regarding the deportations. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry also denied that sectarian identity played any role in the removals, stating that deportations were linked solely to violations of UAE regulations.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said deportation figures this year remained consistent with previous years but did not provide detailed statistics. At the same time, a senior Pakistani government official acknowledged that authorities were reviewing the situation after receiving thousands of deportees, many of whom were reportedly Shi’ites. The official added that Islamabad had not publicly raised the matter due to diplomatic sensitivities.
International human rights organizations have also expressed concern. Michael Page, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch, described the reports as deeply alarming and confirmed that the organization was investigating the allegations.
The issue carries significant economic implications for Pakistan as well. Approximately 1.8 million Pakistanis currently live and work in the UAE, contributing more than six billion dollars annually in remittances to Pakistan’s economy.
