Pakistan demands 'proof' of terror charges for deportees
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday instructed its diplomatic missions in European capitals to demand evidence of a potential crime when host countries sought to deport illegal immigrants being held on terror charges to Pakistan.
The move came days after Islamabad said it had suspended its agreement on the readmission of illegal immigrants with European Union countries, except Britain, because of its “blatant misuse”.
During a meeting on Tuesday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed Pakistani diplomatic missions in Europe to demand proof from host governments that wanted to deport Pakistanis on terror charges, a statement said.
“It is a violation of human rights if any Pakistani is deported on terror charges without any proof,” he said, according to the statement.
“We have to not only give courage to Pakistani expatriates, but also stand by them at every step."
Nisar also warned that airlines who carried deportees back to Pakistan without the interior ministry's permission or without travel documents would have to pay unspecified fines.
The 2010 agreement that Pakistan said it had suspended aimed to facilitate the return of Pakistani illegal immigrants and other nationals who had transited through Pakistan before arriving in the EU.
Related: Pakistan suspends readmission agreements with western countries
The federal interior minister said on November 6 that Pakistan has suspended readmission agreements with western countries, except the United Kingdom.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, the minister had claimed that most countries have been deporting illegal Pakistani citizens "without verification", whereas under readmission agreements Pakistanis travelling illegally to any western country have to be deported after proper verification.
Nisar also shed some light on another "dangerous trend" that had emerged over the last several months, under which Pakistanis travelling abroad without documents are deported on charges of terrorism without proper verification.
He added that at least 90,000 people were sent back to Pakistan during the last year.
Even their nationalities are not being verified to ascertain whether or not they are actually Pakistanis, said the interior minister.
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Comments (70) Closed
Nov 17, 2015 11:03pm
"Evidence of potential crime" - does not make sense. Evidence occurs only after crime is committed, not when it is still a potential!
Post Paris, post Sep 11 and post Mumbai, most countries will not accept foot dragging and any for the kind of evidence that Pakistan is demanding. They just want to be rid of future problems.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:10pm
I am confused. If the deportee is an illegal migrant then why should that person not be deported? Why should any country carry the burden of an illegal foreign national? If the person broke the law to enter that country then that person is more likely to break the law again.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:10pm
Why people leaving this Land of Pure to lands of impure. Because of its religion?
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Nov 17, 2015 11:12pm
Deported about 90,000 Pakistani illegal immigrants in a year? That is almost 250 per day! It is unbelievable. We must thoroughly investigate on our part as well because, there might be illegal Pakistanis (those who obtain fake Pakistani identity papers and fake passports), tarnishing the image of the country.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:13pm
Ch. Nisar should be made the prime minister. He is different from the rest.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:16pm
Sir, illegal means an incident that carries crime. Any country has the right to deport illegals and country of origin must take responsibility or accept that their government is violating human rights of their own people.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:17pm
Question is will the world stop deporting them?
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Nov 17, 2015 11:20pm
Thanks ch Nisar for the timely decision made.I live in Ireland and the European were planning a massive deportation of Pakistani's by putting some stupid charges as an excuse for their removal.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:27pm
A good step.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:29pm
Thank you NS and Team.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:36pm
Very good stance by pakistan, now european countries will mend their ways....
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Nov 17, 2015 11:37pm
Good step. Pakistanis need full support of their government.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:39pm
But the question is how Pakistani Government allows people to go abroad without proper verification thats also in large numbers?
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Nov 17, 2015 11:39pm
I appreciate Ch. Nisat on this, its a human rights issue.
Glad to see our country making progress under the present leadership of Pakistan
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Nov 17, 2015 11:41pm
thankyou Mr Minister for taking notice of this. atleast some one is doing his job with responsibility
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Nov 17, 2015 11:52pm
Illegal immigration itself is a crime. If we fine airlines they may simply stop their service to Pakistan leaving us with nothing but the great PIA and that too may be barred by the European countries if they refuse to take these illegal immigrants back. That will place PIA between a rock and hard place.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:56pm
please !!! for God sake... support pakistanis who r living abroad.
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Nov 17, 2015 11:58pm
Illegals should be send back to where they came from.
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Nov 18, 2015 12:01am
If they are illegal, it is enough for deportation. Even on VISA they have right to deport or refuge entry, reason they know better. But given past example where people who got 30-40 years imprisonment in foreign country, when came back to Pakistan got free easily, what difference knowledge of charges will make..I wonder.
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Nov 18, 2015 12:17am
Terror Proofs are mandatory before denial !!!!!
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Nov 18, 2015 12:34am
It's about time out Pak govt owns its citizens abroad. Good Job mr. Nisar!
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Nov 18, 2015 12:37am
It is correct to insist on evidence of a potential crime; however illegal immigrant remains 'illegal' anyway, hence has to be taken back irrespective of merit of evidence...
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Nov 18, 2015 12:51am
Entering another country illegally is a crime, minister. They would be deported.
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Nov 18, 2015 01:01am
Close to 250 Pakistanis a day are being deported and Nisar doesn't see the actual problem?
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Nov 18, 2015 01:04am
If You are illegal migrant, you can be deported.
No proof of any crime required.
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Nov 18, 2015 01:10am
"host countries sought to deport illegal immigrants.."
Being illegal itself is a crime on foreign soil and calls in for deportation..so need you ask about some more evidence? :)
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Nov 18, 2015 01:10am
no amount of evidence can wake up a nation pretending to sleep
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Nov 18, 2015 01:21am
Surely, countries like France and Germany will have to obey Pakistan's orders.
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Nov 18, 2015 01:30am
Pakistan won't accept its own deported citizen? Strange.
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Nov 18, 2015 01:34am
The fact that they are there alone should be sufficient to deport. Why should the host country wait for a crime to be committed?
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Nov 18, 2015 02:14am
@original realist Agreed, however if there is some sort of information on the nature of potential activity then they can be taken into court of law, we dont want these people to be roaming around on streets of Pakistan either.
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Nov 18, 2015 02:28am
Is Pakistan government supporting its citizen breaking laws of other countries by illegal immigration? This order will prove embarrassing to Pakistani government.
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Nov 18, 2015 02:36am
There are several Pakistanis who are convicted terrorists and are in host countries prison. They'll not wait for committed act before deporting, suspicion is good enough.
Nisar's demands makes zero sense.
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Nov 18, 2015 03:14am
@M.Saeed : some may be indians
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Nov 18, 2015 03:21am
Weldone Ch Sahib. It is time to stand up to EU and be counted.
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Nov 18, 2015 03:41am
@Hello World ... Illegal migrants can be deported at any time. They broke the law by entering the country illegally. Legal residents who are Pakistani citizens cannot be deported unless they commit a crime and are convicted. Illegal migrants have limited rights from country to country.
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Nov 18, 2015 03:44am
@M.Saeed ....May be ??? That is already proven.
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Nov 18, 2015 03:59am
At least administration is making some effort. Pakistan must be given the evidence without asking for it. What kind of justice is it when any country can fly back anyone without evidence of any wrong dong. Country judiciary first should decide on bases of evidence only than anyone convicted of a crime should be returned to country of Origen.
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Nov 18, 2015 04:33am
Mr Nissar You must understand all people other then those who are naturalized citizens of foreign origin and subject to deportation on violation of laws of the land. Therefore they are still a liability of their parent country.Those country has not to show any evidence to your country before kicking them out. Your attitude can make life of all Pakistanis difficult , Mind it.
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Nov 18, 2015 04:52am
I am so glad that first time in the history of our country, our this government has decided to stand-up to the Western Nations & stand by Pakistani citizens who are being mistreated and desperately need help from our diplomats. Thank you PM Nawaz Sharif & thank you Minister Nisar for acting like civilized leaders.
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Nov 18, 2015 05:07am
Good decision evidence must be presented before any harsh and extreme action such as labeling for terrorism, and Pakistanis must also respect the law of the land of the country in which they reside.
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Nov 18, 2015 05:13am
When someone is deported then the parent country has to accept their citizens without any pre conditions. What is he talking about?
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Nov 18, 2015 05:34am
Do you think they would listen to anything which does not suit their propaganda and lies. The silence from the muslim leaders in highlighting western crimes has emboldened them and an all out war against Islam has been started at every level.
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Nov 18, 2015 06:21am
He makes Malik look intelligent ... that says it all.
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Nov 18, 2015 06:26am
No country sends back somebody without a reason. If you start demanding evidence as in a court, the ordinary Pakistanis would suffer. They would simply be denied visas.
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Nov 18, 2015 06:29am
No nation has to furnish proof to deport people who do not have a valid visa. If they are of Pakistani origin and they travel illegally, they can be deported without having to be criminals. Nisar has been making one boo-boo after another over the last month.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:13am
The rules for accepting illegal Pakistanis back to Pakistan as enunciated by the home minister of Pakistan are unworkable.They are illegal for all intents and purposes whether they commit a serious crime in a foreign country or not.If the Pakistani embassy is not satisfied with the enormity of crime committed by the illegal person,and he or she is not considered deportable by the home minister that person will be put into prison in a foreign country for a long time.The option is very clear and I don't think Pakistan will ever refuse entry back to Pakistan of its legal citizens.And also airlines will bypass Pakistan and the legitimate Pakistani immigrants in a foreign country will suffer.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:23am
@Faisal how?
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Nov 18, 2015 07:24am
Any country should have the right to deport any foreign nationl who enters illiegally without a proper visa. I believe that Pakistan also has a responsibility to stop anyone leaving without an appropriate visa.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:28am
@Alla Bux: I assume that Pakistani airport authorities check whether people leaving have a visa to visit the country they are going to. Ch. Nisar cannot say that anyone can leave Pakistan and we do not care where they go.
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Nov 18, 2015 07:29am
What if they impose similar heavy fine on PiA for carrying illegal immigrants????
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Nov 18, 2015 07:50am
Good idea of Nisar, If there is no proven charges in the host country, Nisar must insist that illegal immigrants to be given citizenship.. Wanted to know if the illegal immigration is a crime or not...
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Nov 18, 2015 08:29am
Being illegal immigrant itself is a reason to deport.Being Pakistani itself is a proof !
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Nov 18, 2015 08:34am
@Alla Bux he say bringing a person back to Pakistan without travel documents ...as without documents who knows the returnee is irani , Indian, Afghani or Bangladeshi because most of these people are fluent in Urdu
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Nov 18, 2015 08:44am
Pakistan has obligation to welcome its citizens back home from wherever they may be legally or illegally. Legality of migration is up to the host countries to decide and Pakistan to only look after the welfare of its citizen.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:02am
@Nazir Ahmed just for the sake of livelihood and economic upgradation which is unbearable for laymen in this country.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:03am
@Sami Pakistani or other illegals basically flush their passports so no ID except they say they are from Pakistan
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Nov 18, 2015 09:06am
@Sami haven't met an Iranian or Bangladeshi fluent in urdu
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Nov 18, 2015 09:17am
@Nazir Ahmed Mainly because of economy and free hand outs or welfare. Not everything is related to religion.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:20am
@hamada
Very True.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:22am
@Hello World Yes. Absolutely True and valid point.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:28am
@anon Very Well Said. I appreciate that.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:34am
@Ahmer Forget. None would count him.
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Nov 18, 2015 09:38am
@citizen your proposition is simply amusing
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Nov 18, 2015 09:47am
I will second to Mr. Nisar statement, because they shouldn't treat Pakistani like animals and if they have proofs then submit it to the government of Pakistan so the government able to deal with those culprits who went outside of the country and spoiled the image of the country.
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Nov 18, 2015 10:01am
So try to understand deport only after crime is committed.. Pakistan has the right to take action after that not the country where crime is committed.
Surprising human right violation in own country are not matter of concern
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Nov 18, 2015 10:13am
@Hello World The point isn't that they shouldn't be deported. Of course they should be. But saying that these immigrants are terrorists ensures that they are never able to set foot in Europe, Americas and most of the world, because those countries check multiple databases including Interpol and European databases, even when they wish to travel legally.
On a separate note, rather than using FIA for political vengeance, Ch. Nisar should use it to bust the dozens of gangs freely operating in Attock, Jehlum, Gujrat, Gujranwala, most of Southern Punjab and in Baluchistan, that are openly offering youth a rather deadly passage to Europe through illegal means, including a combination of boat, walking, lorries and buses.
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Nov 18, 2015 10:15am
First Why are you sending people without proper documents....
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Nov 18, 2015 10:50am
People are having verbal diarrhoea. Atleast first read and comment. He said to verify their nationalities as pakistani before deportation of illegal immigrants to pakistan. If not verified..
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Nov 18, 2015 10:47pm
@M.Saeed
Maan, who wants to fake Pakistani passport? cant believe your general knowledge!!
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