ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Interior Affairs here on Friday (7th March, 2025) has asked all the foreigners (mostly Afghans, living in Pakistan Sans Papier/having Afghan Citizen Card/Proof of Residence), to leave the country voluntarily by 31st March, or face forced deportation, 1st April onwards.
It is pertinent to mention here that Islamabad believes that most of the acts of terrorism in Pakistan were carried out by illegal migrants from Afghanistan: “Pakistan has been a gracious host and continues to fulfil its commitments and obligations as a responsible state. It is reiterated that individuals staying in Pakistan will have to fulfil all legal formalities.”
Eight hundred thousand refugees happens to have Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) in Pakistan. Even those holding ACCs will be moved from Rawalpindi/Islamabad to other cities and sent back home. Those bearing Proof of Registration (PRO) can stay in Pakistan till 30th June this year but they too will have to leave the twin cities and live elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been directed to coordinate with diplomatic posts in Pakistan asking them to look into the case of those aliens living here and been pledged by their countries apropos relocation. In the present scenario, when Trump is deporting immigrants, it seems US will accommodate refugees contrary to earlier promises.
United Nations has calculated that 1.3 million aliens are formally registered with the Pakistani government and happen to harbour a formal proof of residence. Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades out of which 800,000 returned to their homeland. Incidentally, an enormous number of refugees were born in Pakistan.
Newspakistan.tv
