Pakistan

Consensus needed on refugee citizenship issue: PM Imran

PM Imran says decisive action will be taken after developing consensus

News Desk September 18, 2018

Prime Minister Imran Khan. PHOTO:AFP

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said a consensus would be reached on the issue of granting citizenship to Afghan and Bengali refugees before a final decision is taken by the government.

"Before taking a final decision on the matter, a consensus will be reached," said the prime minister while addressing the floor of the Lower House.

He added that the issue is one of human rights and it is imperative that decisive action is taken in this regard and refugee children in Pakistan deserve to be given Pakistani citizenship.

The premier also referred to law applicable throughout the world and reiterated that children born in this country deserve to be given the country's citizenship.

"We need to take decisive action over the fate of the Afghan and Bengali children born here [Pakistan]," said PM Imran.

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"Refugees are also human beings at the end of the day and leaving them in limbo will have dire consequences on our society," he added and remarked that the opposition should also weigh in on te issue.

"Refugees in Karachi have been crying out for citizenship for several years but to no avail," he said.

He said that the PTI-led government would ensure that all members of society would be given their due rights.

COMMENTS (5)

Raza Pasha | 6 years ago | Reply Pakistan is largely a nation of immigrants, a melting pot and all the better for it. Should the Pakistani government grant nationality to children born in the country that would be the very least the country could do given its hand in the creation of migrants through the support for US action in Afghanistan. All complex I am sure but still the very least that could be done. As for Bengali people and possibly Rohingya, I have little doubt these people we make a great contribution to the country. Immigrants do that as standard.

azmat | 6 years ago | Reply He is talking about children born and raised here and some of them have reached the ages of 40 without nationality. A brave decision by the PM as many of his own party members would create hurdles in implementation of his decision.

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SHUJA AHMED KAZI | 6 years ago | Reply Frankly speaking even if there is no international law about the children of refugees be given the nationality but on the humanitrian ground this should be made law and the children were born in country other than that of the country of their parents is not by their choice, if they be given choice thane they will prefer to be born in Mr. Franks country of origin, further all the American citizens have their roots some were in Europe but nobody questions there.

Frank | 6 years ago | Reply There is no universal law that people born in a country are automatically citizens of that country. The US has this law but the UK doesn't. Imran is very much misinformed.

Frank | 6 years ago | Reply Both the Afghan refugees and the illegal Bangladeshis should be sent back to their own countries. There is very strong feeling about this in Pakistan. Imran will have to back down on this issue.

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