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UAE Deports Pakistani Shiites During Iran Conflict, Leaving Jobs and Savings Behind
More than 100 Shiite Muslims have returned to villages in Pakistan's Chakwal district after deportation from the UAE. They arrived without jobs, luggage or access to savings accumulated over years of work abroad.
May 25, 4:39 AM·2m read2 sources
South China Morning PostAudio version
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More than 100 Shiite Muslims have returned to villages in Pakistan's Chakwal district after deportation from the United Arab Emirates. They arrived without jobs, luggage or access to savings accumulated over years of work abroad. Journalists reviewed immigration documents, visa-status screenshots and flight details for 103 Pakistanis who said they were deported Shiites.
Each of the 24 people interviewed said they were unable to retrieve luggage or savings before boarding flights with dozens of other Shiite deportees.
A database compiled by the Pakistani Shiite political organisation Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen lists 7,500 Pakistani Shiites deported from the UAE since February 28. Group spokesperson Mohsin Abidi said the actual number was likely far higher. U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Iran responded by launching missile and drone strikes on the UAE.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on questions about the deportations. Pakistan's interior ministry said the UAE had not deported anyone based on sect and that deportations were for violating UAE regulations. Pakistan's foreign ministry said deportation figures remain steady this year without providing details.
A senior Pakistani government official who asked not to be identified said Islamabad was reviewing the situation after receiving thousands of Pakistanis deported from the UAE, most of them Shiites. Human Rights Watch deputy Middle East and North Africa director Michael Page said reports of UAE deportations of Pakistani Shia residents are deeply alarming and the group was investigating these serious allegations.
Naqvi and his wife Quratul Ain, both Shiites, moved to Dubai in 2024 to work in technology. Naqvi said his wife was deported on April 18 after being detained when she applied to change her employment visa. Naqvi said he was detained when trying to board a flight to return to Pakistan and taken to a UAE facility where he met other Shiites facing deportation.
