Pakistan’s deportation ultimatum is for all illegal immigrants: Bugti

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti has said that Pakistan’s deportation ultimatum is not specific to Afghan nationals but it is for all those residing in Pakistan illegally.

During a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior, the interim minister clarified that the ultimatum extends to all foreign nationals living in the country illegally, and not exclusively Afghan citizens, as some had initially assumed.

The interior minister pointed out that the government had previously held discussions about addressing illegal residents in the country but the message was conveyed that this ultimatum was only for Afghan citizens. He reassured the committee that the government’s intention was to address all foreign nationals residing unlawfully within Pakistan.

He underscored the importance of upholding the law and preventing illegal immigrants from residing in the country, regardless of their nationality.

Afghanistan agrees to facilitate the repatriation of illegal immigrants from Pakistan

Bugti pointed out that no country allows illegal immigrants to stay within its territory unlawfully, and the same principle applies in Pakistan. He highlighted that the message isn’t about race or nationality; it’s about enforcing immigration laws consistently.

Furthermore, Bugti stated that the government’s stance on deportation extends to all illegal residents, emphasizing that anyone residing illegally in Pakistan should leave the country by the specified deadline. This directive extends to all illegal foreign nationals in Pakistan, not limited to Afghan citizens, he said.

Bugti’s assertion came as a response to the miscommunication surrounding the deportation message, which incorrectly suggested that the policy only affected Afghan citizens.

He said that if someone possesses a refugee card or a visa, they are considered our guests. The government is also deporting Baloch individuals arriving from Iran, he said.

The federal government has given the deadline of October 31 for all illegal residents to leave Pakistan.