ISLAMABAD: In the final stretch of a looming deadline for illegal immigrants to leave Pakistan, the Foreign Office (FO) has responded to growing concerns by defending the government’s decision to expel such individuals.
Pakistan’s government has underscored that its actions are grounded in domestic laws and are compliant with relevant international norms and principles.
The statement comes in response to appeals from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which has called on Pakistan to halt the forcible returns of Afghan nationals to avert a potential human rights crisis. This stance has been met with criticism from Afghanistan, which has expressed deep concerns about the fate of its citizens affected by Pakistan’s decision.
The OHCHR has strongly advocated for the continued protection of those in need and has urged that any future repatriations should be safe, dignified, and voluntary. Additionally, the OHCHR has emphasized the importance of ensuring that these returns align with international law.
The OHCHR has also voiced the worrying belief that many of the Afghan nationals facing deportation are at risk of human rights violations if they are returned to Afghanistan. These potential violations include arbitrary arrest and detention, torture, and other forms of inhumane treatment. The OHCHR has expressed its extreme alarm at Pakistan’s announcement regarding its intention to deport “undocumented” foreign nationals residing in the country after November 1. This measure, it argues, will disproportionately affect over 1.4 million undocumented Afghans currently in Pakistan.
In response to the OHCHR’s concerns, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has issued a statement reiterating that the government’s repatriation plan applies to all illegal foreign nationals residing in Pakistan, regardless of their nationality and country of origin. This policy is described as an exercise of Pakistan’s sovereign domestic laws and is asserted to be in compliance with relevant international norms and principles.
Baloch has underscored that all foreign nationals who are legally residing and registered in Pakistan are beyond the purview of the government’s repatriation plan. She has also expressed that Pakistan’s government takes its commitments to protect and ensure the safety of those in vulnerable situations very seriously. The spokesperson has cited Pakistan’s historical record of hosting millions of Afghan refugees over the past four decades, emphasizing the country’s dedication to upholding these commitments.
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Furthermore, Baloch has called on the international community to intensify its efforts to address protracted refugee situations by prioritizing durable solutions. She has assured that Pakistan is committed to working with its international partners to achieve these goals.
The looming deadline and repatriation plan have been a subject of significant international attention and concern. Earlier this month, the Pakistani government issued a strict ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, giving them until October 31 to leave Pakistan. After this deadline, those who remain in the country without proper documentation risk imprisonment and eventual deportation to their respective countries.
This decision was made during an apex committee meeting led by Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and attended by key figures, including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. The committee decided to subject movement across the border to passports and visas, with electronic Afghan identity cards, or e-tazkiras, being accepted until October 31.
Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti outlined the plan for the expulsion of refugees, explaining that instead of housing them in prisons, authorities would establish detention centers in all provinces, including Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad. These centers would provide humane living conditions, meals, and medical facilities for undocumented immigrants, especially women, children, and the elderly. Bugti assured that the government would not compromise on the issue of expelling illegal immigrants after November 1.
He explained that those facing deportation from the country would only be allowed to carry their local currency, amounting to Rs50,000 per family. In the case of Afghan families, they can carry 50,000 Afghan Afghanis. Funds exceeding these limits could only be transferred through proper banking channels, and all modalities for this process were being finalized.
Bugti reiterated that the government’s focus is on individuals living in Pakistan without valid travel documents, and the expulsion of all illegal immigrants would be carried out in phases. Those without valid documents will be the first to be repatriated.
The situation has garnered attention as it raises important human rights and legal questions, including concerns about the well-being of vulnerable populations and adherence to international standards in the context of repatriation.
As the deadline approaches, international organizations and concerned parties continue to monitor the situation closely. The ultimate impact of this decision and its implications for the affected Afghan nationals and the broader refugee crisis remains a topic of global concern and debate.
