Gave deadline to illegal foreigners Leave Pakistan by Oct 31st

Apex Committee vows to address all security threats in befitting manner

ISLAMABAD (Online): Apex Committee of the National Action Plan has vowed to deal possible challenges regarding security situation and ensure implementation of constitution and law as per expectations of the people.

The Committee was chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul- Haq Kakar in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Chief of Army Staff, concerned federal ministers, provincial chief ministers and heads of all civil and military agencies were present in the meeting.

The participants made a comprehensive assessment of the country’s internal security situation so that possible challenges can be dealt within a sustainable manner.

The participants of the meeting resolved that despite all difficulties writ of the state will be ensured.

Apex Committee made decisions include, withdrawal of illegal foreign nationals residing in Pakistan, the formalization of border movement procedures in which movement across the border will be permitted only on passports and visas and action against illegal immigration, crack down on trade and property of illegal foreigners.

Meanwhile, a task force has been formed under the Federal Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate fake identity cards, businesses and properties to deal with illegal identity cards and properties.

The Forum reiterated the need to further enhance and strengthen ongoing operations against growing illegal activities including drug trafficking, hoarding, food and currency smuggling, illegal remittances and power theft.

The Apex Committee highlighted that the use of force is sole jurisdiction of the state and no person or group will be allowed to use coercive force.

The Committee made it clear that there is absolutely no place for any political armed group or organization in the country and those involved in such activities will be dealt with iron hands.

It was also highlighted that Islam is a religion of peace and the state will not allow anyone to achieve political goals by interpreting the religion in their own way.

The Committee said that state will protect the rights of minorities given to them by Islam and constitution.

The forum emphasized that those who campaign for propaganda and disinformation should be dealt with strictly under cyber laws.

The Apex Committee reiterated its determination that the principles of faith, unity and discipline will be followed in true sense and tireless efforts will be continued for development of the country.

APP adds: Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti on Tuesday gave a deadline to all Illegal foreigners in Pakistan to voluntarily leave the country by October 31^st or the law enforcement agencies will deport them on November 1^st.

Addressing a press conference after the Apex Committee meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar at the Ministry of Interior, Bugti said that no foreigner will be allowed to enter Pakistan on fake documents or no without visa documents. He said, the apex committee meeting decided November 1^st as deadline for passport and visa renewal for all foreigners living illegally in Pakistan.

There is no country in the world which allows foreigners to enter on any other document then visa but unfortunately, our country is the only one where anyone can come without a passport or visa, said the minster adding that after November 1^st, no person, resident of any other country, will be able to enter Pakistan without passport and visa.

He said a task force has been constituted in the ministry of interior to dig out the properties of people who illegally entered Pakistan for confiscation and the operation would be started after November 1^st.

“Our intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies will find them and we will confiscate these businesses and properties, and any Pakistani involved in facilitating them will be punished according to Pakistani law” Bugti said. For Afghan residents the minster said that that the government will be issuing e-tazkira to Afghan citizens from October 10 to October 31, to their convenience.

This e-Tazkira will be computerized after which paper Tazkira will not work and after the deadline passport and visa policy will be applicable for them too, said the minster.

He said many irregularities were found in the issuance of ID cards and many fake ID card were made and on the basis of those fake ID cards, fake ravel documents and passports were made.

He said people on the basis of these fake ID cards and documents travel to foreign countries and in many cases these people were found to be involved in terrorist activities and those caught were not Pakistani citizens but they had Pakistani passports which they got from NADRA.

In such a situation, the appointment of an expert military officer as Chairman NADRA is a welcoming step said the minister adding that those involved in illegal issuance of identity cards will also be brought to justice soon. He said that NADRA has a family tree in which it is possible that any one of us can enter the family tree and become a Pakistani citizen.

“We have got the DNA test facility and we will also conduct DNA test for those who are Pakistani ID card holders but are not Pakistanis, apart from this we are building a web portal and a UAN number, we are encouraging all Pakistanis to contact us through the web portal and this number will give us information regarding illegal identity card, illegal immigrants and will give information regarding illegal activities like smuggling, hoarding” said the minister.

He said the name of such whistleblower will be kept confidential and reward money will be kept for them, the Ministry of Interior will give that information to all its departments and they should take immediate action. He said government’s crackdown against illegal business of “Hundi & Hawala” and electricity theft is continued and the government will be more strict on it in coming days’

He said that the government will not allow anyone to establish a monopoly against extremism because this power belongs to the state, be it in the name of political extremism, terrorism, nationalism or religion or in any name, violence will not be tolerated. If someone wants to impose their agenda at gunpoint, it will not be allowed and the government will follow the constitution and law, said the minister.

He said any group or organization that targets minorities in the name of Islam or against the teachings of Islam, the state not allow any such group to flourish in Pakistan.

Reacting to the interior minister’s announcement today, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Qaisar Khan Afridi told Turkish news outlet Anadolu Agency that “any refugee return must be voluntary and without any pressure to ensure protection for those seeking safety.”

“We have seen disconcerting press reports about a plan to deport undocumented Afghans and we are seeking clarity from our government partners,” he was quoted as saying by the report.

Afridi urged the government, which he said was “generously hosting refugees for more than 40 years”, to institute a mechanism to ensure that Afghans with international protection were not deported.

He pointed out that it must be kept in mind that those fleeing persecution often did not have the necessary documents and travel permissions.

Afridi asserted that the UNHCR was ready to support the government in developing a mechanism to manage and register people in need of international protection on its territory and respond to “particular vulnerabilities”.

“Pakistan has remained a generous refugee host for decades. This role has been acknowledged globally but more needs to be done to match its generosity,” he was quoted as saying.