Sindh home to over 1.56m illegal immigrants, SA told

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Razzak Abro
KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Home Affairs, Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza informed the Sindh Assembly on Friday that over 1.56 million immigrants were living in Sindh.

Responding to a question by a member, Mirza said that according to the figures provided by the National Aliens Registration Authority (NARA), Sindh has over 1.56 million illegal immigrants belonging to different countries, with a majority hailing from Bangladesh, while adding that NARA was doing a good job. Mirza said, “The government has tried to send these illegal immigrants back but they are not willing to leave the province. A huge amount would be needed for launching a special drive against the aliens.”

Replying to a question, he said that laws existed for the return of legal immigrants but difficulties were there. “One reason is the unavailability of funds and even the immigrants do not want to go back to their countries. I wish that they could leave tomorrow but in this situation the deadline cannot be highlighted,” added Mirza. Replying to another question, he said that NARA and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) shared the information related to the matter, while adding that now it is difficult to obtain a fake national identity card. Mirza also informed the house that the Sindh Police special branch also checks and takes legal action against illegal immigrants and over stay cases.

Furthermore, Mirza also said that the government has terminated the refugee status of Afghan nationals, adding that they were illegal immigrants. Mirza, however, stressed on the need to differentiate between Afghans and Pakhtoons.

Overcrowded prisons: Provincial Minister for Prisons Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra told the assembly that the 20 prisons in Sindh had a total capacity of boarding 9,541 prisoners but these were overcrowded with 18,566 prisoners. Responding to another question, Shujra said, “The government had purchased 153 prison vans some three years ago that were kept with the police department. Now, the prison department has requested the police for transfer of the vans to the prisons department.”

Replying to a supplementary question he said, “Earlier, the prisoners had the right to get release on bail under the law but former president General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf had abolished the law.” Provincial Law Minister, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro said, “Musharraf’s act was aimed only at keeping President Asif Ali Zardari behind bars for an unlimited time.”

Sindh Finance Bill passed: Returning to the legislation side, the Sindh Assembly passed the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Bill, 2009 unanimously. According to the Law Minister, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, the bill had been presented to rationalise the infrastructure cess.

He said, “It is for rationalising the cess collected for special maintenance and development of infrastructure for smooth and safer movement of goods entering or leaving the province from or for outside the country by road.” Speaking on the issue in and outside the assembly session, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that the amendment would have been effective since 1994.

The two newly inducted clauses in section-2 after sub section-1 of the bill, say, “The proceeds of the cess shall be utilised for maintenance and development of infrastructure and other activities ancillary thereto in such manner as may be proscribed. No refund of the cess claimed to have been paid or overpaid through inadvertence, error or misconstruction shall be allowed, unless such claim is made within three months of the date of payment of such cases.”

MQM’s parliamentary leader, Syed Sardar Ahmed, said that the amendments were necessary in the interest of the province. According to him, the Sindh government would get the benefit of Rs12 billion, annually, due to the bill.

SA welcomes UN Commission on BB’s murder: The assembly members passed a resolution unanimously to welcome the UN Secretary General’s announcement for setting up an international commission to probe into assassination of the PPP’s chairwoman Benazir Bhutto.

The resolution says, “This house welcomes the UN decision to set up an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the assassination of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and expresses hope that the commission yields expeditious results, allowing the perpetrators of this catastrophic and heinous crime to be brought to justice”.

The house also passed another resolution unanimously to express solidarity with Kashmiris to mark the Kashmir Day observed in the country on February 5. The resolution says, “This house reaffirms its solidarity to the people of Kashmir, condemns the continued brutality meted out to them, and urges the UN to act upon its resolutions aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg12_1