Pakistan speeds up drive to expel illegal migrants

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan is opening holding centres and additional crossing points for the deportation of illegal migrants.

The caretaker government has set the November 1 deadline for all undocumented aliens, mostly Afghan citizens, to leave the country or face forced deportations.

The Balochistan government is opening three additional crossing points to speed up the expulsion of unregistered foreigners to Afghanistan and Iran.

Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai told reporters on Friday the crossing points were  being opened in Qila Saifullah, Qameruddin Karez and Baracha Noor Wahab in Chagahi district.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, he said, relevant authorities were taking measures for the repatriation of illegal aliens on expiry of the deadline.

At the holding centres the illegal migrants will be given food and other facilities.

Around 40,000 to 50,000 people from Chaman and Spin Buodak crossed the Durand Line daily without passports and visas, the minister told a questioner.

He hastened to explain the government would no longer allow illegal travel, which was in violation of international practices and principles.

More than 16,000 Afghans had already returned to their homeland along with their families via the Chaman crossing, he added.

Like llegal Afghan refugees, Achakzai said, but also Iranian Balochs, Nigerians, Bosnians, Bangladeshis, Indians and other unregistered foreigners were also being expelled.

He warned of taking action against the Pakistanis renting out houses and shops to illegal refugees. The properties of foreigners would be confiscated, he continued.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs Department has also finalised the areas for keeping illegal migrants in Landikotal and Peshawar.

The illegal foreigners living in Azad Kashmir and Hazara division will be shifted to a centre in Haripur district.

Also on Friday, Punjab’s caretaker Information Minister Amir Mir said 33,000 illegal foreign residents, mostly Afghans, had been identified in the province.

The undocumented aliens are being kept at 36 ‘holding points’ in the province. They would be deported if they did not leave the country voluntarily by Oct 31.

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