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Published 19 Sep, 2018 07:33am

What about the Biharis?

This refers to your editorial ‘Citizenship promise’ (Sept18) Kudos to Prime Minister Imran Khan who has taken notice of nationals of Afghan and Bengali origins. On his maiden visit to Karachi last Sunday, he promised those born and raised in Pakistan to solve their nationality issues. Indeed, the PM will be loved and remembered for years to come for this action on a humanitarian basis.

Mr Khan’s recent gesture encourages me to bring the plight of Bihari Pakistanis to his notice — currently forced to live in camps in Bangladesh. They are being punished for their love of Pakistan. They are not ready to accept Bangladesh’s nationality. In the past, many governments promised to arrange to bring them back and a colony was also established in Mian Channu in Ghulam Haider Wyne’s stint as Punjab Chief Minister, if my memory serves well.

Now a third generation of helpless Biharis is growing up with the hope that one day they will return to their beloved Pakistan. If Mr Khan declares to bring them back to Pakistan, it would truly be another feather in his cap.

Muhammad Javed
Lahore

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018

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