Bugti says deportation to be done in phases, encourages voluntary repatriation

Pakistan government will encourage voluntary repatriation of foreign nationals till November 1, following which the state will commence expulsion of aliens in phases, said Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday.

“After November 1, the state will commence its operation to expel aliens in phases,” he said.

In an interview, Bugti confirmed that over 20,000 illegal foreigners have left Pakistan voluntarily over the last three days. He stated that all provincial governments would play an active part in the operation against illegal foreigners. “Committees have been formed on divisional and district levels,” he added.

The interim interior minister further clarified that the expulsion of illegal foreign nationals will be carried out in phases and people with no travel documents will be deported in the first phase.

“The government has completed the geo-mapping and will locate illegal foreign nationals wherever they are,” he said, adding that they have established holding centres to keep illegal foreigners after the deadline.

Read Pindi to arrest 24,000 undocumented Afghans

“All basic facilities will be provided at these centres to illegal foreign nationals,” he assured in a question inquiring about their safety.

About the upcoming elections, Bugti said it is responsibility of caretaker government to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan in holding general elections. He said whatever the ECP's directions are, we will abide by it.

'Expulsion in line with international law'

As the looming deadline set by the Pakistani government for the departure of illegal immigrants approaches, the Foreign Office (FO) also issued a statement on Monday stating that expelling aliens is "in line with the country’s domestic laws and with relevant international norms and principles".

The statement came after a call out from the Office of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR), urging Pakistan to halt the forcible return of Afghan nationals. OHCHR also warned the country against the possibility of a human rights catastrophe if these deportations proceed.

FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated that the repatriation initiative applies to all illegal foreigners residing in Pakistan, irrespective of their nationality or origin. Baloch stressed that this decision aligns with Pakistan’s sovereign domestic laws and complies with international norms and principles. However, legally registered foreign nationals residing in Pakistan fall outside the scope of this plan.

She further highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly evident in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for over four decades.

Baloch called upon the international community to intensify efforts in addressing protracted refugee situations and prioritise sustainable solutions to repatriate them.

Amid criticisms from Afghanistan, Pakistan emphasised that the decision isn't targeting any specific ethnic group. The commission urged Pakistan to ensure that any future returns are safe, dignified, voluntary, and fully consistent with international law.

OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, speaking from Geneva, expressed deep concerns about the plan, stating that the impending deportation could significantly impact over 1.4 million undocumented Afghans in Pakistan and potentially expose them to severe human rights violations if returned to Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, the government issued an ultimatum for all undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, to depart from Pakistan by October 31, facing the risk of imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries if they fail to comply.