Over 200 Pakistanis stranded at Istanbul airport

PM Nawaz directs measures for safe return of Pakistanis stranded at Istanbul following military coup bid in Turkey

ISTANBUL: Over 200 Pakistani passengers are stuck at the Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, an official of the Pakistani embassy Abdul Akbar said on Saturday.

According to the official, 150 passengers were stranded since Friday evening while 50 more came in today.

He said that the authorities are in touch with the Turkish Airlines to accommodate as many passengers as they can when they resume flights.



"All the passengers are of Turkish Airlines," said Akbar, adding that the airline has agreed to send an airplane to Islamabad once flight operations are resumed.

Usually Turkish Airlines operate twice everyday from Karachi, and once in four times from Islamabad.

The Pakistani Embassy and Consulate in Turkey are in constant contact with the Turkish airlines to facilitate the departure of stranded Pakistanis, a statement by Foreign Office said.
“Two officers deputed by the Pakistan Embassy and Consulate General of Pakistan in Istanbul are at the Ataturk airport to assist the Pakistanis there,” the statement added.
Following number can be reached for further details:
1. Istanbul: 0090-532-568-3413
2. Ankara:   0090-505-979-5393

The official has requested Pakistani passengers to go to Turkish Airlines counter in the transit area and get their flights rescheduled.

All flight operations were halted at the Istanbul airport after a Turkish army faction backed by tanks and fighter jets staged an attempted coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan early on Saturday but the strongman returned to Istanbul defiantly claiming to have regained control.



Moreover, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed measures to safely return of Pakistanis stranded at Istanbul airport following a military coup attempt in Turkey.

He directed the embassy in Istanbul to look after Pakistani nationals in the country, adding that special flights may also be arranged to repatriate them if necessary.

Flight operations resume

Reuters reported that the flights on Turkish Airlines at the Istanbul airport returned to their normal schedule later on Saturday, a spokesperson said.

Operational delays are expected after the airport was shut to traffic overnight, the spokesperson added.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that 161 people were killed in the coup attempt against the government, with 2,839 soldiers now detained on suspicion of involvement.

Yildirim, speaking outside his Cankaya palace in Ankara and flanked by top general Hulusi Akar who was held during the coup attempt, also described the putsch bid as a “black stain” on Turkish democracy. He added that 1,440 people had been wounded.