3,500 Pakistanis Deported for Violating Social Media Rules

The disclosure was made by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while answering questions in the National Assembly session. The minister informed the house that these expulsion operations were carried out in the context of violations of social media and cyber laws implemented in the UAE during the tension and war situation between Iran and the US. According to him, the UAE authorities took action under the implementation of local laws and these measures were not specifically against Pakistani citizens.

Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the government of Pakistan is providing all possible diplomatic and legal assistance to the affected Pakistanis and their families. He further said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also in touch with the relevant authorities to resolve issues related to the properties and financial affairs of those who have been sent back from the UAE. On the other hand, some international reports have claimed that thousands of Pakistani citizens, especially those belonging to certain communities, have been sent back from the UAE in recent months and some of them have faced difficulties in accessing jobs, bank accounts and personal belongings.
However, the Pakistani government has rejected the impression that the expulsions are not targeting any specific country, nationality or sect, but rather that these measures are taken in accordance with the laws of the host country. According to the Ministry of Interior and the Foreign Office, Pakistanis living in the UAE should fully comply with local laws, especially regulations related to the use of social media, as violation of such laws can lead to visa cancellation, fines or deportation. It should be noted that there are approximately 1.8 million Pakistanis living in the UAE, which is considered an important source of remittances for Pakistan.