The residents of Pakistan’s southwestern border city of Chaman continued their sit-in protest over the past several days, demanding the government reverse a new passport and visa policy which is due to be implemented from Nov. 1 at the border crossing. The protest, which kicked off on Saturday at the Chaman border, took place in the wake of the Pakistan government’s move to tighten its travel policy for citizens of all neighboring countries, after Law Enforcement and Security Agencies informed that foreign nationals particularly illegal Afghan refugees have been involved in serious crimes, relating to country’s economic and security issues ranging from sponsoring and harboring terrorists, weighing undeclared war against Pakistani State, smuggling of important commodities together with foreign currencies including most desired US dollar, street crimes and cases of kidnapping, ransom and extortion. After the Country’s economy reached a looming collapse and Afghanistan based terrorist outfits mounted serious security risks for the state of Pakistan, the purblind Pakistani leaders came to senses by strengthening the border regime, framing a new visa and travel policy for foreigners effective from November 1. The government of Pakistan has recently issued instructions to illegal migrants including Afghans to leave the country voluntarily before November 1, otherwise they will face a forceful evacuation, along with imprisonment and fines.
There had been a wide ranging reaction against the government’s decision regarding repatriation of all illegal migrants, citing multiple grounds, legal and economic consequences together with religious and historic bonds and trade compulsions. Meanwhile, lobbying agents, pressure groups and trade cartels used diverse strategies to reverse the government’s decision and the ongoing sit-in Chaman is another tactic to pursue the executive to change its policy. In fact, no nation can survive and grow without the rule of the law, implementation of policies and regulation of entry/exit, trade and tourism, religious as well as political and social activities of the masses. Today, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have illegally procured Pakistani Identity Cards and Passports and are roaming in the guise of locals and threatening the state by one or the other means. Over the years, Pakistan has been a safe haven for criminals and crooks, grazing fields for illegal foreigners, that not only spoiled our economy and society but brought the country to the verge of collapse. The policy of appeasement and undue courtesy has cost a heavy price to the nation. Realistically, no government is authorized to curb lawful movements of its citizens but no group could also be allowed any extraordinary concession that risks national security, economic interests or cause embarrassment for the country any time in the future.
