UK envoy hails Pak army's 'fantastic response' for airlifting Sikh pilgrims

ISLAMABAD: British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew on Tuesday expressed gratitude to the Pakistan army for airlifting to safety 67 Sikh pilgrims stranded during the protests in Punjab.

Sharing a video showing the Sikh pilgrims being airlifted by the army’s helicopter on his Twitter account, the UK envoy wrote: “Last week the Pakistan Army airlifted to safety 67 British Sikhs on a pilgrimage in Pakistan.”

“They’d been stranded at a service station by the protests. Fantastic response from the Pakistani authorities. All the pilgrims left the country safely. Thank you.”

Last week the Pakistan Army airlifted to safety 67 British Sikhs on a pilgrimage in Pakistan. They’d been stranded at a service station by the protests. Fantastic response from the Pakistani authorities. All the pilgrims left the country safely. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/zBGoJs8atb

— Thomas Drew (@TomDrewUK) November 6, 2018

The three-day countrywide protests over the acquittal of Aasia Bibi in a blasphemy case ended last week when the federal government reached an agreement with the protesters.

The protests erupted across the country after the Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi of blasphemy charge on Oct 31.