ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Friday issued a stern warning and made it clear that there would be “no compromise” after the November 1 deportation deadline for illegal immigrants in the country.
The government’s directive, issued earlier this month, mandates the departure or expulsion of all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million Afghan nationals. This decision was taken after the revelation that 14 out of the 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were perpetrated by Afghan nationals.
“In the meetings regarding the expulsion of Afghan refugees, all stakeholders were present. During these discussions, it was decided to provide a grace period,” the interior minister said, adding that some immigrants had expressed their desire to return voluntarily.
The Interior Minister emphasized that the policy to expel illegal immigrants extended beyond Afghan nationals; it applied to all individuals lacking the necessary documentation to reside in Pakistan. He clarified, “People, regardless of nationality, will not face difficulties if they possess a valid visa and required documentation. Our focus is solely on expelling illegal immigrants.”
Afghan Refugees Voluntarily Leaving Pakistan
Since the announcement of the deadline, thousands of Afghan nationals have started voluntarily leaving Pakistan, with economic factors cited as a significant reason for their decision to depart.
The government decision to urge illegal immigrants to leave is closely linked to the escalating violence in the country, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.
According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 1.33 million registered Afghan refugees hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, and 840,000 possess Afghan citizenship cards.
