November 1 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave country,

COAS Munir vows to establish writ of state,

NAP apex body decides to expel illegal foreign residents, act against their businesses, properties,

Islamabad_ The caretaker government on Tuesday set Nov 1 deadline for illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan to leave the country, otherwise strict action would be taken against them.

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti announced the government’s decision while addressing a press conference in Islamabad. He briefed the media about the decisions taken at the Apex Committee meeting chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar.

Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir and other concerned officials attended the meeting. The interior minister said foreign nationals languishing illegally in the country are being given a deadline of Nov 1 to leave Pakistan voluntarily. He said the govt will take action against the illegal foreign nationals and they will be deported after 1st of Nov.

The minister said that no one would be allowed to take law into their hands, Bugti also announced that all illegal properties and businesses being run by these illegal nationals would also be confiscated after the deadline.

“A task force has also been constituted at the Interior Ministry to launch and monitor these actions. Safety and security of the people of Pakistan is the prime responsibility of the government,” said the minister.

The caretaker govt on Monday announced expelling 1.1 million foreigners illegally residing in Pakistan. According to details, the government will evict illegal “aliens” in the first phase along with those who do not renew their visas. In the second and third phases, those living in Pakistan with Afghan citizenship and possessing proof of residence cards will be deported respectively.

The interior ministry has prepared a plan in consultation with the stakeholders and the Afghan government. In the meantime, the ministry has also issued directives to the concerned to compile a record of Afghans living without permits and prepare a transportation plan to bring them to the Afghan border.

Earlier,

The Apex Committee of the National Action Plan on Tuesday resolving to expel illegal foreign residents and take strict action against their businesses and properties, constituted a task force to scrutinize and do away with fake identity cards and business activities.

The committee which met here under Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, also decided to widen the scope of ongoing action against illegal activities like drug smuggling, hoarding, smuggling of currency and eatables, illegal money transfer and power theft, a PM Office press release said.

Attended by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, relevant federal ministers, provincial chief ministers and heads of civil and military law enforcement agencies, the Apex Committee decided that movement at the border would be subject to the passport and visa, in a view to document the processes.

Chief of Army Staff  Gen Asim Munir expressed his resolve to go to any extent to establish writ of state in the country.

The army chief expressed these views during a meeting of the apex committee chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar in the federal capital. He called the today’s gathering “historic” as heads of all federal and provincial law enforcement agencies (LEAs) were present under one roof.

“Probably, it was for the first time that the meeting was attended by all large and small institutions responsible for security in the country,” Gen Asim Munir said.

COAS said the life of every Pakistani citizen was more valuable than anything else, adding that Pakistan had only one option and “that is we have to rise and stand to the challenges”.

At the end of the apex commit, the Pakistan Army chief also recited Allama Iqbal’s poetry, aiming at arch-rival India.

The task force that would work under the interior ministry would help scrutinize the fake identity cards, businesses and properties in order to get rid of the same. The participants of the meeting reviewed the internal security situation in the country with a view to overcome the challenges durably.

They resolved that despite all odds, the government would ensure implementation of the constitution and the law as per the public aspirations. The forum reiterated that the use of force was only the state’s mandate and no individual or group would be allowed to use the same. Besides, there was no room for armed political organisations or groups and the people involved in such activities would be dealt away with strictly.

In the meeting, it was also highlighted that Islam was a religion of peace and the state would never allow anyone to interpret the religion just to serve own political interests. The rights and religious freedom of the minorities were the component of Islam and Constitution of Pakistan and the state would ensure their provision.

The Apex Committee stressed that those spreading propaganda and disinformation should be dealt with strictly under cyber laws. The participants were informed that technical procedures were being devised for the awareness and implementation of the laws, which were being promulgated keeping in view the observance of the law and the convenience of the people. The forum reiterated its resolve that the principles of faith, unity and discipline would be followed in the true spirit and tireless efforts would be continued for the development of the country.