Zeeshan Ali from Gujrat reportedly takes his own life; body remains at local hospital as fellow Pakistanis face severe distress and appeal for immediate government intervention
Islamabad/Colombo (Izhhar Khan Niazi): The difficulties faced by 20 Pakistani youths who have reportedly been stranded in Sri Lanka for more than two years without valid travel or work permits are turning into a serious humanitarian crisis. A 22-year-old Pakistani national, Zeeshan Ali, from Gujrat, reportedly died by suicide on August 8 after becoming deeply distressed. His body is still at a local hospital in Sri Lanka, while the tragic incident has left other stranded Pakistanis in a state of severe shock and anguish.
According to the affected Pakistani youths and their families, the young men had traveled to Sri Lanka in search of employment and were hired as call center operators by a company operated by Chinese nationals. They maintain that they had no involvement in the company’s internal affairs or alleged activities.
Later, Sri Lankan authorities reportedly detained the Pakistani employees along with the Chinese owners of the company. The affected Pakistanis claim that despite being granted bail by a court, the Chinese owners managed to flee the country by using their financial resources and influential connections, while the Pakistani youths remained caught in legal and financial difficulties.
According to the affected Pakistanis, they have been stranded in Sri Lanka for more than two years. They allegedly have neither valid travel authorization nor permission to work, nor a stable source of income. As a result, they are facing serious difficulties in meeting basic needs, including food, accommodation, legal expenses and other essential requirements.
The death of Zeeshan Ali has further highlighted the gravity of the situation. His fellow Pakistanis say that following his death, the other youths are suffering from severe mental stress, fear and despair. They fear that another tragedy could occur if the Government of Pakistan does not take immediate practical measures.
The families of the affected youths say they are experiencing immense anguish over the condition of their loved ones in Sri Lanka and do not know when or under what circumstances they will be able to return home.
The affected Pakistanis have appealed to the Government of Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistani Embassy to treat the matter not merely as a legal case but as a humanitarian crisis. They called for immediate contact with Sri Lankan authorities to ensure transparent and speedy proceedings and to protect the legal rights of the Pakistani citizens.
They maintained that if no concrete crime has been established against the youths, there is no justification for leaving them stranded in Sri Lanka indefinitely without adequate support.
The affected Pakistanis have demanded that the Pakistani government immediately arrange legal assistance, food, accommodation and other basic necessities for them, facilitate their travel documentation and return to Pakistan, and take effective diplomatic measures with the Sri Lankan government to ensure their safe and dignified repatriation.
The affected families have appealed to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to intervene immediately and ensure that the tragic death of 22-year-old Zeeshan Ali becomes the last such incident.
The families said that one young man has already lost his life, while others are suffering severe mental anguish, and that no further loss of life can be allowed to occur.
Human rights organizations and international institutions have also been urged to take immediate notice of the situation of the Pakistani youths in Sri Lanka and play their role in providing them with legal and humanitarian assistance.
The affected individuals and their families emphasized that they are not seeking any special concession or illegal facilitation. They are only demanding justice, legal protection, basic human necessities and the safe return of their loved ones to Pakistan.