{"id":19971,"date":"2023-10-31T22:39:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-31T22:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/illegal-immigrants-to-face-action-as-deadline-for-voluntary-return-end\/"},"modified":"2023-10-31T22:39:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T22:39:05","slug":"illegal-immigrants-to-face-action-as-deadline-for-voluntary-return-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/illegal-immigrants-to-face-action-as-deadline-for-voluntary-return-end\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal immigrants to face action as deadline for voluntary return end"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan\u2019s deadline for illegal immigrants to leave the country voluntarily expired today (Wednesday) as the caretaker government\u2019s phased deportation plan is set to kick off with \u201cfull force\u201d, ARY News reported.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pakistan, reeling from an economic crisis and a deteriorating law and order situation, asked all illegal immigrants to leave voluntarily before November 1 or face deportation.<\/p>\n

Pakistan is home to over millions of Afghan migrants and refugees, of which about 1.7 million are undocumented, officials say.<\/p>\n

Afghan refugees arrive in trucks and cars to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman \u2014 AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More than 100,000 Afghan migrants have already left Pakistan since the start of October. More than 80 per cent have left via the Torkham border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the majority of Afghan migrants live.<\/p>\n

Talking to journalists, Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti warned of strict action against locals helping the immigrants and sheltering them.<\/p>\n

Related:\u00a0Tens of thousands of Afghans flee Pakistan as deadline looms<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday directed officials and agencies to be respectful with undocumented immigrants while detaining them in holding centers after the deadline. Talking to media persons here, he said strict action would be taken against officials found involved in manhandling of the immigrants and including Afghans while transporting them to the holding centers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny Pakistani who will rent his house to illegal immigrant will be considered as partner in crime and treated equally according to the law,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has collected entire data of undocumented immigrants in the country through geo-fencing, the minister said, adding that those who still tried to escape government\u2019s amnesty would be caught from their hideouts.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow few hours are remaining, whoever does not leave Pakistan by the specified time and does not have a valid visa and passport, he will be deported,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u2018Immediate deportation after arrest\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the caretaker federal government decided to immediately deport illegal immigrants<\/a>\u00a0after their arrests and special instructions were given to the local administrations and police forces of all provinces.<\/p>\n

Pakistan pulled up socks for deportation of illegal immigrants and decided direct deportation after their arrests. Following the cabinet\u2019s approval, the interior ministry issued instructions to the police forces, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and local administrations across the country.<\/p>\n

Read More: Illegal immigrants\u2019 expulsion plan finalized: Sarfaraz Bugti<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The authorities granted special powers to the local administrations, police forces and LEAs for completing the repatriation process across the country.<\/p>\n

The concerned police departments will prosecute the illegal immigrant cases during trials. Additionally, the prosecution powers were also granted to the police through chief secretaries.<\/p>\n

The law was taken into effect after the formal approval of the federal cabinet and the interior ministry.<\/p>\n

Pakistan defends repatriation <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Foreign Office (FO) said the decision to deport the illegal immigrants<\/a> residing in Pakistan was in line with the sovereign domestic laws and international principles.<\/p>\n

The statement was issued in response to the United Nations High Commissioner (UNHCR), who called on the Pakistani government to \u201csuspend forcible returns of Afghan nationals before it is too late to avoid a human rights catastrophe\u201d.<\/p>\n

Read More: Repatriation policy not centric to only Afghan immigrants: PM Kakar<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe call on them to continue protecting those in need and ensure that any future returns are safe, dignified and voluntary, and fully consistent with international law,\u201d UNCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.<\/p>\n

In a statement, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch the decision was \u201cin exercise of Pakistan\u2019s sovereign domestic laws, and compliant with applicable international norms and principles.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n