BJP TODAY

May 1--15, 2003 - Vol. 12, No. 09

Rajasthan has the highest number of overstaying Pakistanis

As per available information, 10266 Pakistani nationals were living in India illegally as on 31st October 2002. A large number of Bangladeshi nationals are also illegally staying in the country. Data based on religious identity of the Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals is not maintained. The Minister of State for Home, Shri Harin Pathak told the Lok Sabha that Pak nationals belonging to Hindu community are not interested in going back due to the fear of religious persecution by the Government in power in that country.

He said the powers to detect and deport foreign nationals, including Pakistanis and Bangladeshis staying illegally in India have been delegated to the State Governments and UT Administrations under the Foreigners Act, 1946. Besides administrative instructions are also issued to them from time to time to launch special drives to detect the illegally staying Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals for their deportation.

In Rajasthan, as many as 4878 Pakistani are overstaying, followed by 600 in Madhya Pradesh, 580 in Gujarat, 527 in U.P, 423 in Maharashtra (where 1097 are untraceable) and 255 in West Bengal (including 364 untraceable Pakistanis). There are overstaying and untraced Pakistanis in other States too.