LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has begun action towards the deportation of Pakistani nationals residing in the state. So far, 118 Pakistani citizens have been identified by the authorities concerned and 32 of them, including a mother-daughter duo, were deported via the Attari border.
Though authorities have not disclosed the official figure of Pakistani nationals residing in the state, around 1,500 are estimated to be present across various districts, mainly in western UP.
UP CM Yogi Adityanath convened a meeting attended by the Home Department, Principal Secretary Sanjay Prasad and DGP Prashant Kumar in this regard.
After the central government’s order in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani citizens are approaching the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) in various districts.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Friday, spoke to all the CMs on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and asked them to identify Pakistan nationals in their respective states.
Shah asked them to inform the Centre about all the Pakistani nationals so that their visas could be cancelled. He also asked the chief ministers to take steps to ensure the prompt return of the people to Pakistan.
In Agra, Maqsood Ali, alias Faizan, from Karachi, Pakistan, who had come along with his wife to visit his In-laws just five days ago, approached the LIU office in Hari Parvat on Thursday. He had been married to Warda since 1983 and had long planned to visit his in-laws in Agra’s Tajganj area. After much effort, he obtained a visa and arrived in Agra on April 20.
“After the Pahalgam attack, I learned about the decision of the Indian government. After this, I reached the LIU office. Here I inquired about returning. Whatever process needs to be completed should be done,” said Maqsood.
Meanwhile, DCP Agra City, Sonam Kumar said that the couple, who came from Pakistan on a short term visa, were sent back on Thursday evening. The husband and wife had come to Malko Gali in Tajganj.
Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar said that detailed orders regarding the deportation of Pakistani citizens were awaited.
In Bulandshahr, five Pakistani women, who came to India on 30-40 day visitor visas to meet their relatives, were sent back after their visas were cancelled. Upon hearing about the cancellation, they arrived at the LIU office and were deported from the Attari border.
Khanum, who visited Bulandshahr in April and hails from Chandiyana village, broke down at the LIU office. She had waited 12 years for this visit and was unsure when she would return. Nasaba Khan, who arrived on April 11 to visit her family in Syana, shared that she used to visit annually when her father was alive, but it had been six years since her last visit.
She expressed hope of returning in 1-2 years if granted a visa. On the topic of tourist killings in Pahalgam, Nasaba condemned the murders. Following government orders, Nasaba was sent back from Syana.
Meanwhile, 18 Pakistani citizens are staying on long-term visas in Bulandshahr. All of them have married Indians and have applied for Indian citizenship. Police and administration are regularly monitoring them.
According to SSP Dinesh Kumar Singh, after the government order, Pakistani citizens are voluntarily participating in the deportation process.
In Saharanpur in western UP, 12 of the 18 Pakistani citizens who came to India on visitor visas to attend family functions were deported via the Attari border on Thursday.
Kotwal in-charge Piyush Dixit said the six remaining Pakistani nationals would be sent back soon.
Baskari had come along with husband Rashid to attend her niece’s wedding in Saharanpur, with visas valid until May 25. Post Pahalagam, both were deported on April 25.
The Centre, on Wednesday, had announced that Pakistani nationals would not be permitted to travel to India under the SAARC visa exemption scheme (SVES), and any Pakistani national currently in India under the SVES visa had 48 hours to leave India.