The Supreme Court highlighted on Thursday the government’s failure in dealing with as many as two million illegal migrants in the country – a majority of whom reside in Karachi.
The apex court censured the government’s inaction over the serious issue, which, it added, was deeply rooted with the deteriorating law and order situation, particularly in Karachi.
A special bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Gulzar Ahmed, was hearing a case regarding the implementation of its recommendations in the Karachi violence suo moto case.
The court expressed its shock at learning that only 226 people were verified as living illegally in Karachi, while urging that the matter needed its due attention.
“It is a major root cause of the law and order situation in Karachi, and needs to be addressed,” Justice Jamali stressed, while adding that the country was already over-populated and could not even cater to the needs of its own people. “How, then, can these people be legalised,” he said.
The bench observed that it would make sense for a person whose family lives in the city to be concerned about the law and order situation, but one who has no interest in the city would perhaps have no concern in this regard.
“A person fleeing Uzbekistan, Burma, Tajikistan or Afghanistan enters Pakistan, and his [fake] citizenship papers are prepared within 15 or 30 days because there is no policy,” Justice Jamali pointed out, while directing the federal law officer to submit the government’s reply on what mechanisms were being adopted to document illegal migrants.
Meanwhile, Sindh police chief Fayyaz Leghari submitted a report to the court during Thursday’s hearing, stating that the police’s special branch along with National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) officials were evolving mechanisms to verify the disputed nationalities of people living in the city.
He added that according to a joint survey, around 878 illegal immigrants – 670 Indians and 208 Afghans – were found living in Karachi without any documentation. He added that NADRA teams would visit these localities soon to get illegal migrants registered in its database.
Justice Jamali remarked that just 878 illegal immigrants were found living in the city, while thousands others are living without citizenship in settlements on the suburbs of Karachi.
Justice Osmany regretted that the government had not been taking any steps to include illegal immigrants into its database, adding, “They must be documented. If not, then give them amnesty like America.”
On the court’s query, the Sindh chief secretary said it was the duty of the federal, instead of provincial, government to deal with the issue.
The Sindh chief secretary, however, was directed to inform the court on the next date of hearing how the Sindh government was planning to handle the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2012.
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Given the topic of immigrants in upcoming elections, an interesting new book that helps explain the role, struggles, and contributions of immigrants is "What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to understand crazy American culture, people, government, business, language and more.” It paints a revealing picture of America for those foreigners who will benefit from a better understanding. Endorsed by ambassadors, educators, and editors, it also informs Americans who want to learn more about the U.S. and how we compare to other countries around the world on many issues. As the book points out, immigrants are a major force in America as they are in other nations. Immigrants and the children they bear account for 60 percent of our nation’s population growth. Legal immigrants number 850,000 each year; undocumented (illegal) immigrants are estimated to be half that number. They come to improve their lives and create a foundation of success for their children to build upon, as did the author’s grandparents. Many bring their skills and a willingness to work hard to make their dreams a reality, something our founders did four hundred years ago. Chapter after chapter identifies those who became successful in the US and have contributed to our society. However, most struggle in their efforts and need guidance and a helping hand, be they in Karachi or the US. www.AmericaAtoZ.com
@Caramelized_Onion: @HollyCow: If you gentlemen can afford illegal migrants, good, keep them. However, please settle them back where they can find their ilk. That will be in their province / country of origin from where they came or escape. The lackadaisical and insouciant approach of our present and preceding governments is wanton immorality. Total absence of organization and administration. Look at the cost to the country. Is this where you imagined you would live and work, desired to educate your children and summed up for retirement? If the USA, UK, Europe and some other countries have this problem, they require cheap labor to remain competitive and carry out R and D. USA is tied up with illegal migrants but is unable to do anything. However, they have a strong law and order system. In Karachi Shareef every other Tim, Tom, Dick, Harry, and Mary from the rural areas is embedded here with special gratitude to our LEAs, who almost sold Rawalpindi to the influx of Afghans in the late 70's and early 80's. When Benazir opened up an investment zone, Gadoon Amazai, Nawaz scrapped it. The result is in front of you. Unchecked proliferation of narcotics business led to the settlement of Sohrab Goth. The erstwhile Governor of Sindh, Ghous Ali Shah bulldozed the settlement only to spring back to life again after he left. Now it is another FATA in the precincts of Karachi Shareef. The two main factors are corrupt LEAs and a negligent (corrupt) approach of our government of the day. Sorry but have a nice day. Salams
I find it fascinating that we have just handed over governance of the country to the courts, with the governement sitting back and only interested in making money, for themselves mind you, not the country.
And then we have the nerve to start picking descrepancies from the court's rulings. Weird nation.
Every country has illegal immigrants. Nothing to cry about. Just get on with it as does the rest of the world. To blame all criminal activity in a city the size of Karachi on illegal immigrants is a bit far fetched.