AS the government is sincerely and successfully implementing its decision to repatriate all foreigners staying illegally in Pakistan, some unscrupulous elements are at work to undermine and sabotage the orderly process of repatriation. While several politicians and so-called rights’ activists have filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the ‘mass deportation of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, media reports also suggest presence of a sinister plan to disrupt the process of repatriation by inciting Afghans within the established camps or creating law and order problem at border crossing points to malign the Government of Pakistan.
The Federal and Provincial governments, backed by the Pakistan Army and law enforcing agencies, have launched a meticulously-prepared and well-coordinated operation against all illegal immigrants, clarifying that it is not targeted against any particular nationality as all those staying in the country illegally would be deported. However, going by the fact that Afghans are well-entrenched in local communities, a propaganda campaign has been unleashed that the plan is targeted against them. This is despite the fact that more than four million Afghans live in Pakistan and action is contemplated against 1.7 million, who are undocumented. The government, especially the Prime Minister, has clarified time and again and necessary instructions have also been issued to the relevant authorities not to touch those who are properly registered as refugees or have valid documents. The operation is meant for illegal aliens but there are legitimate demands by people of Pakistan that the Afghan refugees, who are here for over four decades, should be sent back to their homes as normalcy prevails in Afghanistan. Pakistan has rendered tremendous sacrifices for hosting such a large number of refugees for decades and it can no more afford to do so in the given socio-economic challenges. As for illegal immigrants, no country accepts them or gives them a license to buy properties, run transport and even indulge in criminal activities. Those trying to obstruct the process are harming the socio-economic interests of the country for the sake of petty politics and other considerations. Their vested interests are explained by reports that Saudi Arabia alone has confiscated 12,000 fake Pakistani passports from Afghan nationals. People of Pakistan appreciate the resolve of the government and want it to take the deportation campaign to its logical conclusion.
