For nation's security,
stability: Libya's
'official govt' bans
entry of Pakistanis.
Libya’s internationally
recognised administration based in the east
has banned Pakistanis, Yemenis, and
Iranians from entering the divided country,
a military statement said on Tuesday.
The move widens a visa ban already
applied to Sudanese, Bangladeshis,
Palestinians and Syrians.
Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni runs
only a rump state in eastern Libya after
a rival group seized Tripoli a year ago,
setting ups its own parliament and a
government not recognised by world
powers.
Thinni’s government and allied security
forces would therefore only be able to
enforce the ban at the eastern airports of
Tobruk and Labraq and the land
crossing with Egypt.
Top army commander Khalifa Haftar,
allied to Thinni, signed the latest ban,
which cited the overall security situation
and a need to preserve “the nation’s
security and stability”.
The decision, a copy of which was
received by Reuters and confirmed by a
senior military official, also said that
Sudanese and Bangladeshi were not
allowed to come to Libya, as mentioned
in previous government statements.
Haftar has repeatedly accused Sudanese,
Palestinians and Syrians of having
joined Ansar al-Sharia and other
militant groups which are his forces in
the eastern city of Benghazi. He has also
accused Yemenis of having joined
militants.
In September 2014, Thinni said Sudan
had attempted to airlift weapons and
ammunition to the new Tripoli rulers.
Khartoum denied this, saying the
weapons were meant for a joint border
force under a bilateral agreement.
Libya is also a key conduit for Pakistani
migrants heading to European shores.
Recently, a number of migrants died
while trying to cross the Mediterranean
in small boats which departed from the
coast of Libya.
For nation's security, stability: Libya's 'official govt' bans entry of Pakistanis - The Express Tribune