ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office of Pakistan on Monday reaffirmed the country’s stance to deport all illegal foreigners and maintained that the decision was made in accordance with Pakistan’s domestic laws and was “compliant with applicable international norms and principles.”
This response comes in the wake of concerns raised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which urged the Pakistani government to stop repatriation of Afghan nationals.
Pakistan clarified that the expulsion plan applied to “all illegal foreigners residing in Pakistan, irrespective of their nationality and country of origin.” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, clarified that individuals who were legally residing and registered in Pakistan were exempt from this plan, underlining Pakistan’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations.
Statement by the Spokesperson in response to media queries:
🔗⬇️https://t.co/tkMjxv2HD5 pic.twitter.com/eIUyYfdJmO
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 30, 2023
“The government of Pakistan takes its commitments towards the protection and safety needs of those in vulnerable situations with utmost seriousness. Our record of the last forty years in hosting millions of our Afghan brothers and sisters speaks for itself,” Baloch asserted.
Furthermore, the spokesperson called on the international community to intensify efforts to address protracted refugee situations, emphasizing the need for durable solutions as a top priority. She assured that Pakistan would continue collaborating with international partners to work toward these solutions.
