ISLAMABAD
The government has finalized a comprehensive plan for repatriation of illegal foreign nationals including Afghans to their countries from tomorrow. According to details, the Ministry of Interior has set up 49 holding area points across the country to help these people respectfully cross the border after thorough screening.
Out of them, 36 holding centers have been established in all 36 districts of Punjab, three in Peshawar, Haripur and Landi Kotal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two in Kemari and Malir districts of Sindh and three in Quetta, Chagai and Pishin districts of Balochistan.
Similarly, one holding center each has been established in Islamabad Federal Capital and Gilgit. Moreover, Chaman, Noor Wahab, Badini and Barab Chah crossing points in Balochistan and Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan and Angoor Adda points in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be used for crossing Pak-Afghan border.
Meanwhile, a special App has been launched by NADRA for convenience of repatriates and a control room has also been set up at Interior Ministry for monitoring the entire process. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has also launched an emergency number 1700 to deal with any situation.
As voluntary repatriation closes today, two new passport offices have been established at Qilla Abdullah and Jamrud and One Document Regime for passport has been implemented for future travelling across the Pak-Afghan border.
In an interview with state-run PTV, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti has announced on Tuesday that the provincial and federal authorities would begin a major crackdown on œunregistered migrants in phases starting from Nov 2.
Bugti said that authorities would strictly begin tracking and arresting foreigners staying in the country without registration or documents from Nov 2. He added that migrants would be sent to temporary centers where they would be provided with basic needs such as medical care and accommodation.
œAll basic facilities will be provided at these centers to illegal foreign nationals, he reassured. Bugti further clarified that the expulsion of illegal foreign nationals will be carried out in phases, and people with no travel documents will be deported in the first phase. He stated that all provincial governments would play an active part in the operation against illegal foreigners, adding that committees have been formed at the divisional and district levels.
The minister said that the government will decide the border of deportation for œundocumented migrants, adding that any migrants in Pakistan illegally should go back to their countries voluntarily to avoid mass arrest and forced deportation.
In response to a query, Bugti said that Pakistan has generously hosted the world’s largest protracted refugee population for over three decades, in line with Islamic values of hospitality and generosity. Balochistan CM: Balochistan Caretaker Minister for Information Jan Achakzai on Tuesday said that a crackdown will be initiated against illegal immigrants from tomorrow.
Achakzai advised all illegal immigrants to quit Pakistan adding that action will be taken under the Foreign Act from tomorrow (Wednesday). All properties of illegal immigrants will be sealed tomorrow, caretaker minister said.
Jan Achakzai said that those providing shelter and employment to illegal immigrants will also face legal action. 30,000 people have so far crossed into Afghanistan, he said. The minister earlier said that the government would take indiscriminate action against all illegal immigrants on the expiry of deadline of October 31.
Millions of Afghans crossed the border during decades of conflict, making Pakistan the host of one of the world’s largest refugee populations. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans estimated to have fled to Pakistan since the Taliban government took control in August 2021. Pakistan has said the deportations are to protect the œwelfare and security of the country.
Karachi: Karachi Commissioner Saleem Rajput on Tuesday said action against illegal immigrants will start after the expiry of the deadline. The caretaker government has set November 1 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave voluntarily to their countries.
Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput has said that those illegally settled in the city will be legally sent back to their countries if they fail to leave by October 31. Karachi commissioner further said more than 10,000 illegal immigrants have been sent back from the metropolis so far.
He said two holding places have been formed in Karachi where security institutions will retain illegal immigrants after the expiry of the deadline. The Karachi commissioner further said a complaint cell has been constituted at Commissioner House to monitor the situation.
Rajput warned people to get their properties [houses, shops] vacated if rented to illegal immigrants, or else action will be taken against owners too. Rajput made it clear that people illegally staying in the city will be deported after November 01.
The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday said the decision to deport the illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan was in line with the sovereign domestic laws and international principles.
The statement was issued in response to the United Nations High Commissioner (UNHCR), who called on the Pakistani government to œsuspend forcible returns of Afghan nationals before it is too late to avoid a human rights catastrophe
