171 Pakistanis in danger of Houthi attack

ISLAMABAD: Around 150-200 Pakistanis are stranded in Mokallah and a second PIA aircraft will leave to take them back home today (Tuesday).
Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson in Aden Abdullah Asghar Ashraf Barkat Ali said 171 Pakistanis were facing the danger of an attack by Houthis, who are 30 kms from the city and could attack any time.
He told Geo TV that Pakistani ambassador had directed to evacuate these Pakistanis but permission from the Yemeni Coast Guard was still awaited. After the permission, Pakistanis will board boats on the shore.
The possibility of evacuation from Aden through Chinese assistance was also being explored, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday night. “Chinese vessels are currently undertaking evacuation operations for their citizens in Aden,” said FO spokesperson Tasneem Aslam in a statement.
It is heartening that over 500 Pakistanis stranded in Yemen have been timely evacuated, owing to the personal guidance of the prime minister and excellent coordination of all the concerned departments, including PIA.
“The focus of our endeavours has now shifted to evacuate the remaining Pakistanis, stuck mainly in Aden and Mokallah,” the spokesperson added. The renewed fighting around Aden has prevented the movement of Pakistanis stranded in Aden to Mokallah, which is at about nine hours’ driving distance.
She said as such, even as a PIA aircraft was on stand-by to fly to Mokallah to airlift the stranded Pakistanis in Aden and Mokallah, “we now have to use the sea evacuation option”.
Two Pakistan Navy ships have been dispatched to the area and are expected to reach there in a few days time, the spokesperson said. These vessels will evacuate the Pakistanis from Aden and Mokallah.
All logistical arrangements for the evacuation are being worked out presently, she stated. According to an official figure, 3000 Pakistanis were stranded in Yemen after the rebels started attacks in parts of the country.