NEW YORK, Jan 19: Pakistanis here are waiting for a meeting scheduled for Jan 29, between Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri and US Secretary of State Colin Powell before turning up for registration at the US immigration centres.

Although the US Justice Department has made it clear that there will be no change in the policy of registration, the expatriates hope that Mr Kasuri would be able to persuade the Americans to drop the rules against Pakistanis.

Mr Kasuri, who arrived in New York on Sunday afternoon, would attend a UN Security Council meeting on Monday being convened to evaluate the global war on terrorism. US Secretary of State Colin Powell will also attend the meeting to be chaired by French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin.

The foreign minister is scheduled to meet the US Pakistanis in New York on Tuesday, where he is expected to assure them that the government would take up the issue at the highest levels.

However, ambassador in Washington, Jehangir Ashraf Kazi has time and again told the Pakistanis to abide by the US laws as there is no chance of the Bush administration to change its mind.

Meanwhile, in New York, the Pakistan consulate has established help centres at the 26, Federal Plaza, which houses US immigration services where Pakistanis and Saudis are expected to register.

Consul General Mohammed Hafiz told a press conference on Saturday that the consulate had hired a New York law firm, Louis and Edinolf, to counsel and help Pakistanis in need.

“They [law firm) will provide legal help, and if need be the counsel will go with them to the INS office in New York only,” Hafiz said.

He also announced telephone numbers of the consulate: 212- 472-6807 and 212- 879-4874. The consulate officials may be contacted on these numbers between 10am and 4pm.

The US Justice Department has estimated that some 15,000—20,000 Pakistanis could turn up for registration at various cities in the United States. But the National Council for Pakistanis has put the estimate at staggering 100,000.

“Once the dust is settled following the foreign minister’s visit to Washington, Pakistanis will realise that they have no alternative but to register,” said a Pakistani community activist.