Pakistan Government Sets Up “Holding Centres” to Deport Illegal Immigrants, Including 1.7 Million Afghan Nationals
Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistan government has announced the establishment of “holding centres” across the country and has finalized a plan to deport illegal immigrants by the October 31 deadline. This includes an estimated 1.7 million Afghan nationals. Earlier this month, Pakistan issued an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants to leave the country by the deadline or face imprisonment and deportation.
While the government has stated that the deportation announcement is not limited to Afghans and applies to all illegal immigrants, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti did single out Afghan nationals during a press conference. Bugti stated that “illegal Afghan nationals were responsible for 14 out of the 24 suicide bombings in the country this year.” He emphasized that the safety and security of the people of Pakistan is the government’s top priority.
Bugti urged illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan to voluntarily return to their countries. He mentioned that the government has devised a plan to repatriate these individuals. As the deadline approaches, Bugti emphasized that no compromises would be made and referred to the establishment of centres in various cities to house the illegal immigrants. Those who choose to leave voluntarily will be assisted in their departure from Pakistan.
“It is a challenging task, but Pakistan is determined to expel all illegal immigrants,” Bugti stated, according to The International News. The decision to deport illegal immigrants was made during an apex committee meeting led by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, with the attendance of Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and other officials.
The committee also decided that movement across the border would require passports and visas, with electronic Afghan identity cards only being accepted until October 31. The Dawn reported that “holding centres” will be established in provinces as well as in Islamabad, Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. These centres will provide medical facilities and food to the illegal immigrants before they are transported out of Pakistan.
Bugti assured that women, children, and the elderly will be treated with respect during the deportation process. He outlined the terms and conditions for the return of all such immigrants and mentioned that areas with high concentrations of illegal immigrants have been identified through geo-fencing.
The interim Interior Minister announced that a strict crackdown will be launched against illegal immigrants, including Afghan nationals. They will be arrested and expelled to their native countries. Bugti estimated that at least 4.2 million Afghan people currently live in Pakistan, with three million residing illegally and without any legal documents.
For the past four decades, Pakistan has provided refuge to Afghan refugees who fled the country during the Soviet occupation from 1979 to 1989. After receiving criticism for singling out Afghan refugees in the October 5 deportation announcement, the Foreign Office clarified that the decision applies to all illegal residents without valid visa documents and is not specifically targeted at Afghan refugees. The Foreign Office affirmed that the national policy towards Afghan refugees in the country remains unchanged, and efforts for their safe repatriation are ongoing.
It is worth mentioning that the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, frequently claims responsibility for attacks on Pakistani security forces. Pakistan has repeatedly requested that the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan halt their support for the TTP.
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