WASHINGTON, Jan 11: Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said on Saturday it was “improbable” that America would remove Pakistan from the list of the countries whose nationals are required to register with the government while in the US.
The envoy’s admission of Islamabad’s apparent failure in getting an exemption comes a day after Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri spoke with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and requested him to help remove Pakistan from the list.
After the conversation, Kasuri told reporters that Powell has promised to discuss the matter with Attorney-General John Ashcroft who added Pakistan to the list on Dec 16. In a letter to the Pakistani community, the ambassador said that Pakistan had raised the issue at every level of the US administration.
“Till the time the US side responds to our request to take Pakistan off the list, which appears improbable, it is essential that the embassy and the community work hand in hand to help the Pakistanis who will be undergoing registration from January 13,” said Qazi.
He said it was “very vital” that representatives of the Pakistani community seek meetings with the INS officials and remind them that Pakistan is America’s frontline ally in anti-terror war. He urged the INS to treat those who come for registration with “due dignity and respect” and allow them to stay in the US without fear till their cases are finalized. The people he is seeking leniency for include:
a) Applicants under 245(i), which relates to amnesty granted to all immigrants present in the US on sponsorship before April 30, 2001.
b) INA sections 212(a)(5)(A); and 8 USC Section 1182(a)(5)(A), which relate to those Pakistani nationals who have applied for labour certification.
c) Sections 203(a) INA and 204-1, 8 CFR, which relate to those Pakistani nationals who have applied for change of status on basis of family ties.
d) Those H1 visa holders or F1 students who have had minor blemishes in their immigration history, such as having worked off campus or in case of H1 visas, having been out of job for a limited period of time.
e) Those without adequate papers should also be granted an extended amnesty if they have no criminal record.
