Decision to deport illegal immigrants in line with global norms: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Monday said the decision to deport the illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan was in line with the sovereign domestic laws and international principles, ARY News reported.

The statement was issued in response to the United Nations High Commissioner (UNHCR), who called on the Pakistani government to “suspend forcible returns of Afghan nationals before it is too late to avoid a human rights catastrophe”.

“We call on them to continue providing protection to those in need and ensure that any future returns are safe, dignified and voluntary, and fully consistent with international law,” UNCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.

In a statement issued today, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch the decision was “in exercise of Pakistan’s sovereign domestic laws, and compliant with applicable international norms and principles.”

“We have seen the press statement by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) applies to all illegal foreigners residing in Pakistan, irrespective of their nationality and country of origin,” she said in a statement.

The FO spokeswoman said all foreign nationals legally residing or registered in Pakistan were beyond the purview of this Plan.

“The Government of Pakistan takes its commitments towards protection and safety needs of those in vulnerable situations with utmost seriousness,” she said.

She mentioned that the country’s record of the last 40 years in hosting millions of the Afghan brothers and sisters spoke for itself.

Mumtaz Baloch also urged the international community to scale up collective efforts to address protracted refugee situations through advancing durable solutions as a matter of priority.

“Pakistan will continue to work with our international partners to this end,” she said.

The caretaker federal government set a November 1 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave the country or else face deportation.

Earlier, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said that the expulsion plan for illegal foreign immigrants has been finalised, adding that holding centres to keep illegal foreign nationals have been setup in all provinces.

Bugti said that the illegal foreign immigrants will not be kept in jails, but temporary camps have been established as holding centres for them.

“Those coming to these holding centres will be kept there and will be provided food and medical facilities,” Sarfaraz Bugti said.

He said, after November 01 no compromise will be made over illegally staying immigrants. “They will not be arrested but sent to the holding centres,” he stated.