ISLAMABAD (APP): Caretaker Interior Minister for Interior Sarfraz Bugti on Wednesday clarified that the ultimatum for returning home before November 1 is for all foreigners and not just for Afghan refugees.
Briefing the Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior, he said the impression was wrong that only Afghan citizens were being evacuated and after the deadline only passports and visa would be allowed to enter Pakistan.
The minister further apprised the committee that the government had talked about illegal residents, but the wrong message was sent however, its message was not only for Afghan citizens, but for all illegal residents.
He said that no country in the world allowed any nonimmigrant to settle as permanent citizen and start businesses without documentation.
The minister said, the government owned only as a guest if someone had a refugee card or a valid visa but the impression was given that this was an ethnic issue whereas the government clearly talked about eviction of all illegal residents.
Bugti said that he was not aware of the issue of Biharis living illegally in the country, but the matter would be investigated. The minister said that the other counties in the world forcefully deport illegal immigrants in accordance with the international and national laws of immigration and citizenship. Speaking to the media person after the meeting, Bugti said that no extension had been proposed for the date of November 1 given to the people residing illegally in the country.
From November 1, it had to be ensured that anyone coming into the country would bring a passport and those living without visa would be deported with force to their country of origin, he added.
He said attempts were being made to make the issue ethnic but the government would not allow anyone living illegally in Pakistan.
He said that no diplomatic intervention was being done and there was no need for it, adding the western countries strictly followed the laws of immigration and did not allow any one without documents to stay in their country. “If the western countries are so sensitive about their citizens, then for us Pakistanis are above all.” the minister added.
Repatriation of Afghan refugees via Chaman border continues: Repatriation of Afghan refugees via Chaman-Spin Boltak border to their country continued on Wednesday.
As many as 3185 Afghan refugees, including 670 male, 593 female and 1923 children, entered into Afghanistan via Chaman-Spin Boldak crossing point. Till now 67,980 Afghan refugees have been repatriated to their country.
Voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees to their country commenced after Government of Pakistan ordered all illegal immigrants, including Afghan refugees, to leave Pakistan. Afghan refugees are citizens of Afghanistan who were forced to flee their country as a result of wars, persecution, torture and genocide.
The 1978 “Sour Revolution” followed by the invasion of the forces of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in December 1979 forced millions of Afghans to migrate to neighbouring countries Pakistan and Iran. Many Afghans were again forced to flee their country during the civil war in 90s. The invasion of US and its allies in October 2001 forced millions of Afghan refugees to migrate to Pakistan and Iran.
Ultimatum to return home country for all foreigners, not for Afghans only: Sarfraz
