Illegal foreign nationals residing in Pakistan have until November 1, 2023, to leave the country, interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on Tuesday, as part of the government’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.
“We have given the November 1 deadline to our illegal immigrants and illegal citizens who are living in Pakistan with means. Until November 1, they should voluntarily return to their countries,” Bugit said at a press conference in Islamabad that was centered on the apex committee decisions.
A final decision on the eviction of the illegal refugees was expected to be announced today. The apex committee meeting was presided over by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar. Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir also attended the meeting.
“And if they do not leave until the given deadline, we will deport them with the help of all of our law enforcement agencies and government institutions,” the minister said.
He told reporters that approximately 1.42 million – out of the total 4.4 million Afghan nationals – have proof of registration. Pakistan hosts 0.85 million Afghan citizen card holders and 1.73 million illegal Afghan nationals.
What the govt will do after Nov 1
Bugti went on to add that the government would start an operation from November 1 onwards. A task force – intelligence and law enforcement agencies – has been established in this regard that would do the following job:
- It would confiscate the properties and businesses of illegal immigrants or not part of the tax net
- Whoever Pakistani was involved in doing business with them will be tried under the law.An operation against people having fake national identity cards
- Strict action against ‘family tree’ under which foreign nationals are made part of the family in the NADRA database
- DNA tests of those who have Pakistani CNIC but are not national citizens will be conducted
- A web portal – UNA helpline – will be formed. A universal number will be given through which the government would encourage people to inform people about illegal ID cards, illegal immigrants, and illegal practices. The government
- has also set a cash reward for informers whose identity will be “kept confidential”.
- Joint checkposts will be formed to halt hoarding and smuggling. At least 14 have been formed in Balochistan, 10 in Punjab, and five in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Operations against smugglers, pilferers, and thieves will continue
A counter-narcotics centre will be formed at ANF headquarters - No one will be allowed to exercise any kind of violence
- Unions that will take law into their hands and block roads will be dealt with an ‘iron-hand’
