Pakistan’s decision to evict illegal migrants according to int’l practice: Jilani

ISLAMABAD: Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said Pakistan’s decision to evict all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million Afghans, is in line with international practice.

Speaking to Hong Kong’s Phoenix TV in an interview on the sidelines of a forum in Tibet, Jilani said, “No country allows illegal people to live in their country whether it is Europe, whether it is countries in Asia, in our neighbourhood.”

Earlier this week, the government gave an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, to leave Pakistan by October 31, or risk imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries.

“So, accordingly this is in line with the international practice that we have taken this decision,” he added.

#Pakistan #Politics #امیگریشن

📹 [Exclusive] Pakistani FM @JalilJilani: Whenever there was any problem, people will immigrate to Pakistan.

But now, it has been 40 years, and the government of Pakistan has taken a decision, that they should go back to their respective countries. pic.twitter.com/ypXAylPonU

— 鳳凰資訊 PhoenixTV News (@PhoenixTV_News) October 6, 2023

“Whenever there was any problem, people would immigrate to Pakistan, take refuge in Pakistan,” Jilani said.

“But now I think it has been more than 40 years, so the government of Pakistan has taken a decision,” Jilani said, noting that the situation in Afghanistan had stabilised.

Jilani said Pakistan had been discussing the migrant issue with Afghanistan “for a very long time” and he called on international humanitarian agencies to help with the process.

Evacuation starts: 18 Afghan families arrive at Torkham border