Pakistan Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti issued a warning Thursday to “illegal immigrants” living in Pakistan to voluntarily leave the country by November 1 or risk potential arrest and deportation.
Bugti said that the government has data about all those residing in the country without legal documentation, including several from neighboring Afghanistan and they must leave the country on their own by the final cut-off date to avoid being arrested and sent to detention centers set up by the government. He said that those who leave voluntarily may be eligible for assistance with documentation, the currency exchange process and transportation. Additionally, he stated that those who are detained, will not be subjected to harsh treatment and will continue receiving food and medical attention until their deportation.
Pakistan announced its deportation plan on October 3. The announcement alleged that undocumented migrants contribute to smuggling and attacks against the government and the army. The announcement also alleged that undocumented migrants from Afghanistan in particular are a drain on the job market.
