Pakistan sets Nov 1 as deadline to expel illegal immigrants

ISLAMABAD – Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti confirmed Tuesday that the government has decided to force out all foreign nationals, including Afghans, illegally residing in the country. 

All those living unlawfully in the country will have to leave Pakistan till November 1, the minister said during a press conference held after a caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar chaired a meeting of the apex committee also attended by the top military officials. 

Pakistan has faced 24 suicide attacks since January 2023, out of those 14 were carried out by the Afghan nationals. “There is no doubt that Pakistan is facing attacks from Afghanistan,” the interior minister said. 

He said all the state law enforcement agencies will be mobilized to take an action against the illegal foreign nationals.

Bugti also announced that all illegal properties and businesses being run by these illegal immigrants will also be confiscated after November 1.

He said action will be taken as per the law of the land against any of the Pakistani citizens if he is involved in the illegal businesses and making huge properties by these illegal foreign nationals.

The minister also announced the establishment of a task force at the Ministry of Interior to launch and monitor these actions.

He said safety and security of the people of Pakistan is the prime responsibility of the government.

Amid the rise in terrorism, these foreign nationals reportedly pose a serious threat to the security of Pakistan.

A lot of Afghan nationals, who were allowed to enter Pakistan on humanitarian grounds, are now involved in funding, helping, and smuggling militants, and amid the worrisome situation, nearly 0.7 million Afghans have not renewed their proof of residence in the South Asian nation.

The government has directed the concerned authorities to form a record of Afghans living without permits and to chalk out a transportation plan to shift them to the Afghan border.

UN data suggest that over 13 lac Afghans are registered refugees and less than a million more have legal status to remain in the country.

Amid the crackdown, hundreds of Afghans have been arrested in country’s largest city Karachi while scores were held in other cities.