‘Get registered in 30 days or face the music’: Clock starts ticking for illegal immigrants

Staff Report

KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday that illegal immigrants living in Karachi have 30 days to get themselves registered, otherwise a crackdown would be initiated against them.

He also said no political party was involved in the Karachi unrest, and a conspiracy was being hatched to create a strain ties between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Malik said this while talking to media personnel after presiding over a high level meeting on law and order at the headquarters of Pakistan Rangers, Sindh.

He said according to an estimate, between 1.6 million and 2 million illegal immigrants are living in the city, which has a population of 18 million. These illegal immigrants include Afghans, Bengalis etc.

He said that after the lapse of the 30-day ultimatum, the SHOs of the concerned police stations would start a survey of their respective areas to ascertain the numbers of illegal immigrants and start a crackdown.

Malik said terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Muhammad and other banned organisations have started coming to Karachi after facing defeat in Wana and Waziristan.

He also dispelled the impression about administrative lapses in controlling the situation following the Ashura blast and the following arson. He said the investigating agencies have footages that do not show such lapses, including delay in the arrival of the fire brigade.

He said investigating agencies have submitted an interim inquiry report pertaining to arson of Bolton Market and other trading centres on Friday, but he could not reveal its details, as it has to be discussed with the Sindh chief minister.

He said the government has received the final report of the Ashura blast. The clues including calls from a mobile phone have been traced.

Baldia Town blast: The interior minister said Karachi escaped a major terrorist act, as the bomb prepared for targeting some place accidentally exploded in a house, which rented by a family from Swat.

He said he has issued orders for the immediate arrest of the house’s owner.

Responding to question, he said that there was information that perhaps he was the terrorists’ target as intelligence agencies had earlier advised him not to go at a particular place.

Lyari killings: Malik said the killings in Lyari on Thursday were a reaction to murder of person who was killed due to illicit relations with a woman.

He said that though this was a crime, but no criminal could be killed in this manner. He said the government has increased deployment of police and Rangers personnel to control the situation.

Target killings: The interior minister said the government has taken strong notice of target killings in Karachi, and appealed to all communities living in the city and political parties to extend their support to control the situation.

Home | Karachi