The Pakistan’s government has given an ultimatum to undocumented foreign nationals, including Afghans, to leave the country by October 31. The deportation and confiscating of assets will begin from November 1.
The decision was taken at an apex committee meeting of the National Action Plan on Tuesday, which was headed by Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar.
Caretaker information minister Murtaza Solangi announced on platform X, following the meet, “All illegal immigrants have 28 days to leave Pakistani”.
It is learnt that most Afghans will be targeted in the campaign to expel undocumented foreigners.
Army chief General Asim Munir, federal ministers, chief ministers and heads of state participated in the meeting. They also decided to take strict action against businesses, properties owned by illegal migrants, according to the Pakistan’s daily ‘Dawn’.
The committee also decided that the movement across the border would be subject to only visas and passports, and Afghan nationals will be allowed based on their identity cards until October 31, as quoted by ‘Dawn’.
Caretaker interior minister Sarfaraz Bugti told media that nearly 1.73 million unregistered Afghans are living in Pakistan. He also claimed that out of 24 suicide attacks in the country since January, 14 were carried out by Afghan nationals.
Bugti said e-tazkiras would be accepted from October 10-31, after which, visa and passport policy would apply. Post-November 1 deadline, the Pakistani authorities will start targeting illegal property owners and businesses owned by immigrants.
“Our intelligence agencies and LEAs will find them and the authorities will seize those properties and businesses. The Pakistanis involved in this facilitation will be sentenced as per the law,” said Bugti as told to ‘Dawn’.
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