1 week ago
Pakistani MP Alleges UAE Hotel Discrimination After Flight Cancellation
Pakistani politician Asad Qaiser said Pakistani travellers were treated unfairly in the UAE.
Their flight had been cancelled, so passengers tried to find a hotel.
Qaiser said an announcement offered accommodation to people with Indian and American passports.
He said Pakistani passengers were not treated in the same way.
Qaiser said he was travelling with the group and objected to the treatment.
He asked Pakistan’s government to seek answers from the UAE.
The claim has not been independently confirmed in the reports.
Qaiser also said the incident should not damage the friendly relationship between Pakistan and the UAE.
PTI leader Asad Qaiser alleged that Pakistani passengers, including himself, faced discriminatory treatment in the UAE after their flight was cancelled.
Qaiser said an announcement indicated that only Indian and US passport holders would receive hotel accommodation.
He raised the issue in Pakistan’s National Assembly and also discussed it on X.
Qaiser urged Pakistan’s Foreign Office and foreign minister to seek clarification from UAE authorities through diplomatic channels.
The allegation has not been independently established, while Qaiser said it should not harm longstanding Pakistan-UAE relations.
- Who
- Asad Qaiser, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, made the allegation involving Pakistani passengers.
- What
- Qaiser alleged that Pakistani travellers were denied equal hotel accommodation after their flight was cancelled, while Indian and US passport holders were to be accommodated.
- Where
- The alleged incident occurred in the United Arab Emirates after a flight cancellation; reports differ on whether the announcement was made at the airport or at the hotel.
- When
- The reports do not specify when the alleged UAE incident occurred; Qaiser’s separate account about Saba Qamar refers to 2017 and 2018.
- Why
- Qaiser called for Pakistan to use diplomatic channels to seek clarification from UAE authorities and said the matter should not damage bilateral ties.
Qaiser’s Allegation
Available Verification
Treatment of Pakistani passengers
Qaiser’s Allegation
Qaiser alleged that Pakistani passengers received inappropriate and unequal treatment and were not offered accommodation on the same terms as Indian and US passport holders.
Available Verification
The reports do not independently verify the announcement or establish that Pakistani passengers were denied rooms; no UAE response is included.
Diplomatic response
Qaiser’s Allegation
Qaiser called on Pakistan’s Foreign Office and foreign minister to seek clarification from UAE authorities through diplomatic channels.
Available Verification
Qaiser also emphasized that Pakistanis respect the UAE and that the allegation should not damage the countries’ longstanding economic, diplomatic and people-to-people ties.
Broader pattern of treatment
Qaiser’s Allegation
Qaiser said a delegation had approached him with concerns about similar treatment, while Saba Qamar separately described passport-related scrutiny in Georgia.
Available Verification
The reports do not establish that these accounts are connected or demonstrate a broader, independently verified policy affecting Pakistani travellers.
Key facts
- Claimant
- Asad Qaiser said he personally experienced the alleged treatment while travelling through the UAE.
- Alleged policy
- Qaiser said an announcement stated that Indian and US passport holders would be accommodated.
- Circumstances
- The allegation followed a flight cancellation when passengers sought hotel accommodation.
- Requested action
- Qaiser urged Pakistan’s Foreign Office and foreign minister to raise the issue with UAE authorities.
- Verification status
- The reports provide no independent confirmation of the alleged announcement or discrimination, and no UAE response is reported.
- Pakistani population in UAE
- More than 1.5 million Pakistanis are estimated to live in the United Arab Emirates.
- Related account
- Actor Saba Qamar previously described being stopped and frisked in Georgia while her Indian film crew was allowed to proceed.
Quotes
Asad Qaiser
PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker
“I was travelling myself, and the behaviour shown there was extremely inappropriate. Our flight was cancelled. We wanted to stay in a hotel, but their attitude towards us Pakistanis was not good. An announcement was being made that only passport holders from India and America would be accommodated.”
firstpost.com
livemint.com
wionews.com
“I was stopped because of my Pakistani passport. I was investigated and they took my interview and then they let me go”
wionews.com
Sources
'Only Indians, Americans would be accommodated': Pak MP claims UAE hotel denied rooms to Pakistanis
'Only Indians, Americans': Pak MP claims UAE hotel denied rooms to Pakistanis after flight cancellation
'Only Indian, American passport holders allowed': Pakistan MP alleges discrimination at UAE hotel
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