Only Indians, Americans: Pak MP claims UAE hotel snub after flight cancellation

Pakistani travellers were denied hotel accommodation after a UAE flight cancellation while Indian and US passport holders were accommodated, a Pak MP alleged in the National Assembly.

In Short

• Pakistani MP Asad Qaiser alleges unfair treatment in UAE after flight cancellation
• Claims only Indian and US passport holders given hotel accommodation
• Qaiser raises issue in Pakistan's National Assembly seeking diplomatic action

A Pakistani MP and former National Assembly speaker, Asad Qaiser, has alleged that several Pakistani travellers, including himself, were treated unfairly at a hotel in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a flight cancellation, claiming that only Indian and US passport holders were offered accommodation.

Raising the issue in Pakistan's National Assembly (Parliament), Qaiser sought diplomatic intervention and urged the government to take up the matter with the UAE authorities. The MP claimed that the incident occurred despite Pakistan having "played a positive role in the US-Iran conflict".

Qaiser said he personally experienced the incident while travelling in the UAE after his flight was cancelled and passengers sought hotel accommodation. He claimed an announcement was made that only Indian and US passport holders would be accommodated, while Pakistani passengers were treated differently.

"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," the PTI leader said.

Qaiser said he protested against the treatment and expressed disappointment over the incident, particularly given Pakistan's close ties with the UAE, which he described as a "brother Islamic country".

He also highlighted the contribution of Pakistanis to the UAE's development and said Islamabad wanted its relations with the Gulf nation to strengthen further.

"I believe we have diplomatic channels; they should raise this matter," Qaiser said, urging Pakistan's Foreign Office and Foreign Minister to take up the issue with UAE authorities.

Qaiser added that a delegation had also approached him with complaints about similar treatment. He said the Pakistani people continued to respect and have affection for the UAE government and stressed that such incidents should not be allowed to affect relations between the two countries.

The UAE is home to a large Pakistani expatriate community. Recent estimates put the number of Pakistanis living in the country at more than 1.5 million, making them one of the UAE's largest expatriate communities.

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