Binghamton NY: The incumbent puppeteer government backed by the military establishment in Pakistan has taken a strategic step to address the criticism from abroad regarding their unconstitutional and non-democratic practices. In order to maintain stability within the democratic government, they have decided to grant citizenship to overseas asylum seekers, classifying them as ‘Stateless’ and refraining from issuing passports in the future.
Despite resorting to unethical methods such as infringing upon women’s rights, imprisoning their own citizens, and engaging in custodial torture, the military-backed puppetry of the current government has chosen to abandon the people of Pakistan. The recent move has ignited a wave of contemplation among Pakistani citizens worldwide regarding the recent decision made by the current federal government.
Furthermore, Pakistani citizens from minority groups, who are already experiencing severe discrimination and life-threatening issues at the hands of religious groups’ formed by establishment, now find themselves feeling increasingly insecure in their own country.
In a significant move aimed at satisfying their superiors, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi of Pakistan has made the decision to cease issuing passports to Pakistani citizens who are seeking asylum overseas, regardless of their circumstances. In addition, the national photo identity cards of the asylum applicants would also be blocked.
In an order issued by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, the Pakistani government has implemented a policy that denies passports to any Pakistani seeking refuge in another country. This decision has been made with national security concerns in mind. The order, issued under the supervision of Mohsin Naqvi, the Federal Interior Minister of Pakistan, states that passports will not be issued to individuals who have sought or been granted asylum in other countries.
An undisclosed senior official in the Pakistani government has confirmed that a directive has been issued to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities, such as Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) directorates.
Due to the decision, the national identity cards of these individuals will be revoked. It is interesting to observe that the UK, the US, Germany, and Norway are highly sought-after destinations for Pakistani asylum applicants. These nations do not share data with Pakistan, which poses a challenge for the government in verifying the visa status of its citizens residing abroad.
Pakistan’s decision to prohibit the issuance of passports to citizens seeking asylum abroad has been met with criticism from Christian leaders and rights activists, who view it as an unfair and unacceptable measure. Successive governments have also been unable to bring about any meaningful changes to the laws, including the country’s blasphemy laws that carry the punishment of death.
According to rights groups, the laws have been misused to specifically target religious minorities such as Christians, resulting in numerous casualties and the destruction of homes, businesses, and places of worship. The Directorate General Immigration and Passports headquarters has instructed its offices to cease issuing passports to individuals seeking asylum or currently residing on asylum, citing the imperative of national interest.
The June 5 communication was labeled as “confidential,” however, local media went ahead and published it on June 11. A Christian individual who was affected by the blasphemy law in Pakistan and has since settled in Brooklyn, US, expressed their perspective, stating, “This can be seen as a new form of genocide.” Individuals often seek refuge in foreign nations due to feelings of insecurity, persecution, unjust allegations of blasphemy, and the loss of their livelihoods.
The decision by the Pakistani government will leave them without a home or a nationality.