Presence of aliens: ‘Law enforcers have no idea how many illegal immigrants roam the city’

Commissioner hosts meeting to review security arrangements

KARACHI: Since the 2011 survey revealed that there are 2.5 million illegal immigrants in Karachi, the authorities have failed to keep a check on their movement and have, therefore, no idea what their numbers are.

This was revealed in a meeting to review the security situation at the commissioner's office last week. The participants agreed that all illegal immigrants, who are not yet registered with the National Alien registration Authority (Nara) are a serious threats to the law and order situation of the city.



Unfortunately, Pakistan has yet to evolve a mechanism for alien registration, especially those coming from Afghanistan, admitted Nara deputy director Syed Nayyab Haider Zaidi. He said there is no place where such people can register themselves voluntarily.

Zaidi refused, however, to share how many aliens their department has registered since 2011. "The question is not how many registered themselves," he told The Express Tribune. "The question is why a large number of illegal immigrants are not willing to register on their own."

Since they fail to register, the illegal immigrants use unfair means to acquire their computerised national identity cards and passports, he added. Zaidi felt this showed these immigrants have motives that are not shared by the law abiding citizens. The law enforcement agencies must act rigorously and force them to register themselves at Nara offices, he suggested, adding that the registration of aliens is an important requirement for peace in the country.

During the meeting, Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui pointed out that unregistered aliens are a serious threat to the city's peace. Law enforcement agencies must start a crackdown against not only aliens but also agents standing outside the passport and NADRA offices as they provide these credentials in exchange for a small amount of money.

"The aliens must find out the number of aliens in all districts of Karachi immediately," said the commissioner as he gave directions to all deputy commissioners.

During the meeting, Administration DIG Sarwar Jamali also told the participants that the law enforcement agencies have established extra check posts at all entry and exit points of the city. They are monitoring all immigrants and aliens in view of the current law and order situation in the country, he added.

The commissioner also approved a plan during the meeting that included enhanced security for important landmarks, shopping malls, marriage halls, cricket stadiums and other places where large public gatherings take place.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2014.