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KARACHI, Sept 16: The Minister of the Interior, Moinuddin Haider, said here on Monday that Yemeni suspect Ramzi bin Al Shibh and his accomplices would be tried in a court of law in Pakistan.
Talking to newsmen at the foundation-laying ceremony of an extension project of Bantva Memon Hospital in Kharadar, he said Ramzi was in Pakistan.
About his extradition to the USA, he said Pakistan was signatory to the UN Convention under which a criminal wanted by a third country could be handed over after completing legal formalities at the place of arrest.
He said our law-enforcing agencies are fully capable of meeting challenges coming from terrorists.
He said the government was determined not to give sanctuary to criminals and terrorists, adding that any Al Qaeda member who fled from Afghanistan would be tracked down.
ALIENS REGISTRATION: The Minister of the Interior, Moinuddin Haider, said here on Monday that all aliens living in Pakistan must get themselves registered with the National Alien Registration Authority.
He was talking to newsmen during his visit to the NARA office in Clifton.
He also reviewed the performance of NARA and the pace of registration of foreigners at the centre.
The minister said so far 19,000 adult aliens had been registered and if their family members were taken into account, the total number might surpass 30,000.
“According to an estimate, there are about 1.5-2 million illegal immigrants in Karachi. The majority of such people are employed in fishing and textile sectors. These people should get themselves registered and procure identity cards along with three years’ work permit,” he added.
He said none of the aliens would get citizenship automatically as neither they could get passport nor any other facility. They would have to undergo the normal procedure before being entitled to Pakistani nationality.
The minister said he had been apprised that the category of immigrants in question had no intention of settling in Pakistan, but they did not have Pakistani passport and they wanted to return to their countries.
“The government would help them procure special passports to ensure their safe return,” he added.
Mr Haider said in today’s meeting with NARA officials all these issues were discussed and it was decided to open branch offices of NARA in areas which had concentration of such immigrants.
The Director-General NARA, Mohammed Salim Khan, informed that 439 aliens at places other than Karachi had been registered: 131 in Hub, 74 in Thatta, 122 in Tando Mohammed Khan, 39 in Hyderabad, 14 in Lasbela, 13 each in Gharo and Dadu, six each in Larkana, Lahore and Quetta, four in Islamabad and three in Shikarpur.—APP/PPI
