Caretaker Minister for Interior Sarfraz Bugti has said the Apex Committee has unveiled a comprehensive series of decisions designed to enhance security, curb illegal activities, and ensure strict adherence to the rule of law, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
He was briefing the media about the decisions taken at the Apex Committee meeting held in Islamabad on Tuesday and chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar.
COAS Gen Asim Munir, the chief ministers of all four provinces, as well as representatives from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, attended the meeting.
This pivotal gathering also saw the participation of senior security officials, who delivered comprehensive briefings on recent terror incidents within Pakistan.
The security authorities underscored the pressing need for enhanced border security measures in light of these events.
The interior minister said foreign nationals languishing illegally in the country are being given a deadline of Nov 1 to leave Pakistan voluntarily.
He said the govt will take action against the illegal foreign nationals and they will be deported after 1st of Nov.
The minister said that no one would be allowed to take law into their hands.
Sarfraz Bugti said the measures, aimed at fulfilling the expectations of the Pakistani people, are set to reshape the nation's landscape, bolstering discipline, and fostering unity.
The minister said the committee issued a stern ultimatum to all foreign nationals residing illegally in Pakistan, compelling them to depart by October 31, 2023.
“Starting November 1, 2023, federal and provincial law enforcement agencies will take all necessary steps to arrest and forcibly deport any illegally resident aliens.”
He continued the travel across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border will require a computerized identity card (E-Tazkira) effective from October 10, 2023. “Only passports and visas will be accepted from November 1, 2023, he said adding that all other forms of documentation will be rendered ineffective and illegal for cross-border travel.
Bugti said that businesses and properties owned by illegal aliens will face confiscation after November 1, 2023, with illegal business operators and their collaborators subject to legal prosecution.
The minister said that the committee vowed to take strict legal measures against any Pakistani citizen or company providing accommodations or facilities to illegal persons residing in Pakistan after November 1, 2023.
Interior minister Sarfraz Bugti hinted that a dedicated task force, supervised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and comprising members from law enforcement and intelligence agencies, will be tasked with apprehending individuals possessing fake identity cards and properties acquired through fraudulent means.
The caretaker minister stated the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has been instructed to promptly cancel all fake identity cards and if there is doubt about the identity of any person, DNA test should be conducted to confirm it.
He said that the meeting was told that vigorous actions are being taken against various illegal activities, including hoarding, smuggling of goods or currency, referral/handi, and power theft. “Joint check-posts with customs authorities have been established to curb smuggling, he added.
“A narcotics control center is being established at the National Counter Narcotics Control Centre, ensuring coordination in narcotics control efforts and intelligence sharing.”
The meeting was further apprised that stringent penalties await drug traffickers, and drug rehabilitation centers will be established in each province.
Caretaker Minister for Interior affairs remarked that the government is committed to upholding discipline and ensuring that only the state has the right to use force. No political armed groups or organizations will be tolerated in the country, he asserted.
“The state reiterates its commitment to religious freedom and minority rights, pledging to take full legal action against violators.”
The participants agreed that organizations within country are encouraged to peacefully present their legitimate demands to the state for legal resolution.
The meeting also okayed that propaganda and disinformation campaigns will be rigorously dealt with under cyber laws, with technical procedures being developed for law awareness and implementation, prioritizing compliance and convenience.