‘1m illegal aliens’ to be deported by next month

Balochistan minister says poverty and unemployment no reasons to take up arms against state

QUETTA:

The law-enforcement authorities had been given the target of deporting 1 million illegal immigrants by January 30, 2024, the province’s Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai said on Thursday, as the drive for evicting all the illegal residents continued.

Addressing a press conference at Quetta Press Club, the minister said that the repatriation process would continue without any delay. He termed the decision of Apex Committee a wise one, saying it was yielding positive results regarding the overall economic and law and order situation in the country.

“We aim to deport as many as 10,000 illegal immigrants a day. About 500,000 illegal immigrants have so far been repatriated since the deadline set for leaving Pakistan voluntarily expired,” he said. “Some 150,000 illegal immigrants have so far been repatriated from Balochistan alone.”

Read More: Illegal foreigners 'seriously affecting' Pakistan's economy, security: COAS

The Apex Committee, in an October 2023 meeting, had given an ultimatum to all the undocumented immigrants to leave Pakistan by October 31 or risk deportation. After the expiry of the deadline, the caretaker government launched a major crackdown against the illegal immigrants.

While reiterating the government’s resolve to thwart Indian-sponsored terrorism in Balochistan, Achakzai stated that poverty and unemployment were no reasons to take up arms against the state. “Disgruntled elements have also realised that taking up arms was not a solution of their problems.”

Read More: US requests Pakistan not to deport 25,000 ‘vulnerable’ Afghans

He added that Pakistan’s prudent policies had foiled all plots and hidden agendas of enemies to turn the Baloch youth into armed rebels against state institutions. “The youth whose minds had been poisoned by RAW [India’s Research and Analysis Wing] have now joined the national mainstream,” he said.

Achakzai emphasized that the countdown against the elements funded by India had begun and they would soon be exposed. “The bloody politics of those conspiring to make the innocent people of Balochistan against the state has been buried for good,” he added.