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The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Pakistan on Tuesday submitted a resolution in the National Assembly demanding all Afghan immigrants living in Pakistan be deported to Afghanistan before the national population census commences on March 15.
MQM MNAs in their resolution said that there are some 2-2.5 million Afghan immigrants living in the country who have become a "burden on Pakistan's economy".
The resolution further claimed that the immigrants pose a risk to national security.
The MQM adopted the stance that Pakistan has "served" Afghan immigrants for over 30 years but its own people are neglected as they do not have access to adequate water and power supply, quality health care and education as well as employment opportunities.
"It is high time we prioritise our national interests," the resolution added.
The MQM-P's move comes as the Pakistani government has intensified Operation Raddul Fasaad ─ a military crackdown launched in response to the recent surge in terror attacks across the country ─ has raised concerns about racial profiling and discrimination against Pakhtuns.
Know more: Army to act against terrorists across border, Dar tells Senate
Political leaders, including Jamaat-i-Islami emir Senator Sirajul Haq and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, have slammed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for 'racial profiling' and 'harassment' of Pakhtuns by administrative and law enforcement officials.
Read more: FO refutes Human Rights Watch report on Afghan Refugees
However, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif have rejected the claims, saying that political parties are cashing in on the issue to "score points and gain public sympathy."
Pakistan "gave refuge to thousands of Afghans, but we will not keep housing terrorists," Asif told the National Assembly earlier this week.
Also read: Afghan refugees will have to leave Pakistan come what may, says Safron minister
The Human Rights Watch in a damning report released last month on the 'forced return' of Afghan refugees, called on the Pakistani government to avoid recreating conditions in 2017 that had coerced the return of refugees to Afghanistan last year.
Read more
HRW report accuses UNHCR of inaction over 'forced repatriation' of Afghans
Pakistan's stepchildren
What is wrong with repatriating Afghan refugees?
Punjab govt under fire for ‘racial policies’
FO refutes Human Rights Watch report on Afghan Refugees
India, Afghanistan joining hands to create unrest in Pakistan: Khawaja Asif
On DawnNews
Comments (55) Closed
Mar 08, 2017 07:49pm
good point dr
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Mar 08, 2017 07:53pm
Fantastic options DEPORT ALL afghans and all illegal foreigners. Afghanis have drained Pakistani resources. Our Help doesn't mean that Afghanis dictate their terms. Enough is Enough or Send them to UK or US as refugees. Simple recommendations.
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Mar 08, 2017 07:54pm
Mqm doing true representation of sindh with this issue.
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Mar 08, 2017 07:56pm
This new MQM without altaf hussein and the violence is looking good. And this is coming from a Punjabi. They should operate like a normal political party with good secular policies.
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Mar 08, 2017 08:04pm
Another trump wannabe
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Mar 08, 2017 08:05pm
@Sajjad .....Agreed. In addition to Afghans illegal Bengalis ,Burmese and Africans must also be deported.
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Mar 08, 2017 08:08pm
It's a painful fact but repeated incidents have highlighted that loyalty and gratefulness are not part of Afghan's DNA, so it's a good suggestion to ask Afghanis to live where they feel more at home
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Mar 08, 2017 08:06pm
Good step towards more secure Pakistan.
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Mar 08, 2017 08:15pm
Maulana fazlu rehman wins elections because illegal Afghans have been issued Pakistani CNIC.
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Mar 08, 2017 08:25pm
Afghans are our siblings and should've been awarded citizenships on humanitarian grounds and in our religious traditions.
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Mar 08, 2017 08:27pm
A bold resolution. It is time that we start making Afghans to live and fight for their own country. After all how long we going to keep these guys around? It's too much already
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Mar 08, 2017 08:31pm
What MQM has rendered to Pakistan in general and Karachi in particular..?!
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Mar 08, 2017 08:43pm
Well done Dr. sattar sahib. Pakistani nation is thankful to you.
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Mar 08, 2017 08:50pm
@Ahmed bin Babar Again same criticism when Mqm was under altaf hussain. Now without him, questions should be a little different. By the way can you name any party or any person who you believe has delivered to Pakistan in real meaning?
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Mar 08, 2017 08:46pm
Good move by MQM ..
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Mar 08, 2017 08:50pm
@Eli - The Afghan DNA is the same as that of 20% of the people in this country! Please stop insulting them.
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Mar 08, 2017 08:53pm
Really disappointed by the Trumpesque attitude of MQM towards refugees. Same MQM was very unwelcoming to IDPs running away from Taliban.
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Mar 08, 2017 08:56pm
good step MQM
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Mar 08, 2017 08:59pm
MQM & PSP should never accept any census that is conducted to play down Mohajir's population in urban Sindh specially in big cities like Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas etc. Efforts will be made to manipulate numbers.
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Mar 08, 2017 09:02pm
Dr Farooq Sattar must visit Afghanistan first prior to moving such irresponsible motion.The situation in Afghanistan is still not congenial,clashes between different tribes & groups are happening there, while here the Afghans have well integrated in our system in transport businesses,in construction the Afghan labor did more work than the local labor,while rich Afghans have invested in automobile businesses,carpets,textiles,and constructions. The Afghans should be allowed to stay as long as they wish,and all possible assistance be provided for their livelihood and integration.
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Mar 08, 2017 09:14pm
Its not necessary to deport Afghans. Those who are law abiding and are living in Pakistan for more than 5 years should be provided an option to become naturalised citizens or go back to their country.
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Mar 08, 2017 09:50pm
I don't understand why all parties were silent on this important subject for so long, Since the resolution has been submitted, I hope all other political will support this long delayed matter.
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Mar 08, 2017 09:51pm
It's high time to solve this issue
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Mar 08, 2017 09:54pm
Mr. Sattar fix Karachi issues first before you consider yourself qualified to talk about national issues!!
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Mar 08, 2017 09:53pm
@Faisal Bajwa don't agree
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Mar 08, 2017 10:08pm
@Faisal Bajwa yES IF THEY ACT LIKE THE ONE YOU SAID But let me tell you and very loud and clear I have not seen any one Afghani who is even thankful to Pakistan for all that we have done for them.
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Mar 08, 2017 10:24pm
@option :He is the member of national assembly, not a mayor of Karachi. Hate cause people to make illogical comments.
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Mar 08, 2017 10:58pm
i dont normally dont support mqm and their stances but in this cause, i agree with them fully
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Mar 08, 2017 11:56pm
Absolutely 110% agreeeeeeeeeeeeeed. Great suggestion
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Mar 09, 2017 12:09am
Afghans word became a politician topic to gain votes. They just can't find any other topic to talk about to fool Pakistani citizens to vote for them. They will never deport and they know it but they will keep talking to gain free votes and fool everyone.
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Mar 09, 2017 12:30am
@option , your comments are absolutely illogical.
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Mar 09, 2017 12:37am
@ft Add Achakzai too that list too. There should be a time when enough is enough. This should have been a high priority agend considering the security situation in the country.
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Mar 09, 2017 01:40am
@ZAfar I agree with you especially this coming from some folks whose parents, and relative immigrated mass scale without any invitation from the new country. Remember, there was a Liaqat-Nehru Pact signed in 1950 and we were bound to repatriate each other citizens(both Indian and Pakistanis) to each other country for illegal crossing of border. It is despicable that this comes from a party who shouts discrimination days and nights. What exactly Mr. Sattar does for his livelihood? Can he explain to us.
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Mar 09, 2017 01:59am
we have kept them for 30 years and should keep them as long as situation doesn't get better in Afghanistan but those register or unregister Afghans who are found guilty in criminal , terror or illegal business should be deported to Afghanistan immediately.
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Mar 09, 2017 02:02am
Afghan are and always will be welcome in Pakistan, specially after what we have done to their country. If Pakistan does not want refugees to be allowed on this holy land, lets first take the refugees from India out who came after Partition. They are a threat to national, personal and economic security because of their nexus in Karachi!
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Mar 09, 2017 02:15am
In a country of 180 million, saying that 2 million people have drained all the resources and are responsible for all crimes is a logical fallacy and a pathetic attempt to blame our woes on external factors instead of looking in the mirror !!
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Mar 09, 2017 02:55am
This resolution should have been tabled by a mainstream party. MQM will only add an ethnic dimension to the deportation and hence it will become harder to achieve consensus.
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Mar 09, 2017 03:40am
This is the only thing I support MQM on....
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Mar 09, 2017 03:40am
@Malang jan ....That's why its good to eat food at home.....Probably 20% need to change their habits or they also need to be deported.....
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Mar 09, 2017 03:39am
Some of us are stuck in our tribal mentality and for them a 205 common DNA is more important than national interest.
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Mar 09, 2017 03:44am
It will be an excuse to postpone senses.
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Mar 09, 2017 03:45am
@option ...If one or two seats parties talk about national issues than why not 27 seat party. I guess you are not following pakistan politics, there is no national party exist in Pakistan anymore.
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Mar 09, 2017 03:42am
Way to go.
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Mar 09, 2017 03:52am
Absolutely correct. MQM demand is 100 percent correct and justified.
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Mar 09, 2017 04:14am
Excellent move by MQM, now the NA MUST pass this resolution unanimously, unconditionally and without any delay.
Good job Dr. Sattar.
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Mar 09, 2017 05:15am
It is practically impossible.
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Mar 09, 2017 05:16am
It will be a challenge for the authorities to completely exclude Afghans from the forthcoming senses.
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Mar 09, 2017 05:34am
I am the grandson of urdu speaking Mohajir refugees from UP and I am ashamed of MQM. THEY should be all deported. Such a heartless position! This does not suit the children of refugees and immigrants.
Where would WE be if the people of Sindh did not accept us, and yes they do accept us despite the fact that we think we're superior to them, and deported US back?
Shameful. Very shameful.
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Mar 09, 2017 06:00am
LOL for the first time MQM said something good
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Mar 09, 2017 06:14am
Make arrangements to exclude all immigrants during counting, make separate lists and deport them from entire Sindh province specially Karachi. We are with you Dr. Sattar MQM new supremo.
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Mar 09, 2017 06:12am
Remind me why we were hurling abuse on trump. Why don't we all realise that dividing us common people in different ethnicities is the only thing that the elite of our country is being doing for the last 20 years or so. This is because they want to hide core issues which are directly hurting our economy which in turn reduces our social security hence creating crimes i.e. terrorism. Open up your people and see the world for what it truly is.
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Mar 09, 2017 07:07am
excellent idea Dr Farook
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Mar 09, 2017 08:04am
@Pragmatic approach Do you know most of the Afghanis do not like Pakistan and blame Pakistan for most of the violence in their country. Whatever Pakistan is doing for Afghanis since the Zia era has no value in the eyes of a common Afghan national.
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Mar 09, 2017 11:01am
Make arrangements to exclude all immigrants during counting, make separate lists and deport them from entire Sindh province specially Karachi. We are with you Dr. Sattar MQM new supremo.
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Mar 09, 2017 07:51pm
@Shame
Thank you!
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