Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: Balochistan’s Caretaker Information Minister, Jan Achakzai, disclosed on Friday that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has blocked over 70,000 national identity cards in the province.
“NADRA is currently re-verifying all of these suspected NICs,” the Minister revealed while responding to a question on the matter. Sources within NADRA indicated that the majority of these NICs were suspended in the Chaman and Killa Abdullah districts of Balochistan.
Repatriation A Principled Decision
The Caretaker Information Minister informed that illegal immigrants would be assisted at the Pak-Afghan border crossings in Chaman, Qamruddin Karez, and Barabcha, which connect to Afghanistan. He emphasized that the federal government had fundamentally decided to repatriate all illegal refugees to their respective countries.
“It’s not exclusively related to Afghan refugees,” he clarified, urging ‘certain’ political parties not to politicize the federal government’s decision.
Refugees From Sindh, Punjab To Be Supported
Jan Achakzai mentioned that the refugees originating from Sindh and Punjab would also receive support from the Balochistan government for repatriation to their home countries.
In response to a question, Mr. Achakzai stated that if free movement was allowed at the Chaman and Spin Boldak borders, a similar demand could arise from the people of Waziristan. “The old policy has been revised, and the requirement for passports must be enforced,” the Information Minister emphasized.
Pakistan Not A Banana Republic: Minister
He questioned the consequences of allowing 50,000 people to cross borders without valid documentation, suggesting that such actions could diminish the country’s reputation. He advised political parties to critique the government without jeopardizing national stability.
All law enforcement agencies have intensified their cooperation in this regard to ensure the orderly repatriation of illegal immigrants to their respective countries. “After the November deadline for illegal immigrants expires, we will not permit any Afghans to enter Pakistan without proper documents,” he clarified. He also stated that the crackdown on illegal immigrants would be intensified after the November deadline.
