‘Over 2,000 illegal immigrants deported’

Interim home minister says law and order to improve in coming days

KARACHI:

A total of 2,371 illegal immigrants, including 1,700 Afghans, have been deported so far, said Caretaker Home Minister Brig (Retd) Haris Nawaz while addressing a press conference along with Caretaker Minister for Law and Human Rights Omar Soomro, at Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Friday.

"The action of deporting illegal immigrants is being taken indiscriminately," he said and clarified that the action was not being taken only against illegal Afghan immigrants. It is a standard international practice to deport illegal migrants. In line with this, a deadline of October 31 has been established for illegal foreign nationals to leave the country. This operation will be carried out with the collaboration of committees comprising Deputy Commissioners, SPs, and NADRA officers.

Nawaz maintained that individuals from various countries, including India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Tanzania, and others, are being deported.

The actions taken are designed to combat the rising trends of crime, drug-related activities, and the trafficking of illegal substances like ice and cocaine in Karachi. Measures are also being taken to address the smuggling of Iranian petrol and diesel. Criminals in Katcha areas are voluntarily surrendering, and the operation will persist until the last criminal is apprehended.

Replying to a question regarding the operation against dacoits in the Kacha areas of the province, he said, we are trying to break the networks of criminals." He also expressed his doubt about the presence of TTP.

Replying to another question, the Home Minister said that he visited the Marri Jalbani Village to offer his condolences. He said he did not want to talk more about this matter, as an inquiry was under way to this effect.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2023.