The government has reaffirmed its commitment to the policy of evicting all illegal immigrants from the country, including approximately 1.7 million Afghan refugees, asserting that this decision aligns with international norms and practices.
As law enforcement agencies persist in their crackdown on individuals classified as ‘illegal aliens,’ a significant number of families have been crossing the border into Afghanistan over the past week.
Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, while attending a forum in Tibet, explained in an interview that “No country allows illegal people to live in their country, whether it is Europe, whether it is countries in Asia, in our neighborhood. So, accordingly, this is in line with the international practice that we have taken this decision.”
Pakistan’s directive for illegal immigrants to leave the country by October 31 or face forced expulsion has faced criticism from both domestic and international quarters, with organizations such as UNHCR and Amnesty International calling on the government to reconsider its plans. The Taliban government in Kabul has also expressed reservations regarding this move.
Mr. Jilani noted that people had historically sought refuge in Pakistan during times of trouble, but it has been more than 40 years, and the situation in Afghanistan has stabilized. He mentioned that Pakistan engaged in discussions with Afghanistan on the migrant issue for a long time and called on international humanitarian agencies to assist in the process.
Punjab CM urges Illegal Refugees to leave Voluntarily
Separately, caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, speaking to reporters, urged all foreign nationals residing unlawfully in Punjab to leave voluntarily, emphasizing that provincial authorities had compiled initial data on foreign residents.
He cautioned that authorities would not allow foreigners residing unlawfully to stay and warned of a comprehensive crackdown if they refused to leave voluntarily. However, he assured them that they would not mistreat anyone during this process.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, mentioned that the government would execute the expulsion plan in phases, starting with individuals with criminal records, such as those involved in crimes or smuggling. She emphasized that the process would be orderly, contrary to the misconception that all individuals would be expelled simultaneously.
