Aliens given Nov 1 deadline to leave Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti on Tuesday announced that the government has fixed Nov 1 as the deadline for all foreigners illegally living in Pakistan to go back to their countries.

Speaking at a press conference after a meeting of the Apex Committee, he said after expiry of the deadline all law enforcement agencies would deport the aliens, including Afghan nationals.

The Apex Committee at the meeting discussed in details the issue related to illegal foreigners living in Pakistan. It was decided that the aliens would be given four weeks to voluntarily go back to their countries.

Earlier, the police and other law enforcement agencies had been directed to collect data of all foreigners along with the status if their stay.

Police in Islamabad a few days ago rounded up at least 800 Afghan nationals and after verification found that half of them were illegally staying in the country. 

The minister said after Nov 1 an operation would be launched by a task force already created in the interior ministry, that would target illegal properties and businesses owned by illegal immigrants or that were being run in collaboration with Pakistan.

“Our intelligence agencies and LEAs will find them and the authorities will seize those properties and businesses. The Pakistanis involved in this facilitation will be sentenced as per the law.”

Apex committee also decided to work on formalization of border movement procedures in which movement across the border will be permitted only on passports and visas and action against illegal immigration, crack down on trade and property of illegal foreigners.

Meanwhile, a task force has been formed under the Federal Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate fake identity cards, businesses and properties to deal with illegal identity cards and properties.

The forum reiterated the need to further enhance and strengthen ongoing operations against growing illegal activities including drug trafficking, hoarding, food and currency smuggling, illegal remittances and power theft.