ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistani authorities on Thursday sent back an aeroplane with deported migrants from Greece after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) found 30 passengers on-board to have been illegally deported from the European country.
On the orders of Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the FIA had stopped the ‘unverified deportees’ from disembarking from the plane after it landed at Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto International airport earlier on Thursday.
In a statement issued here, the Ministry said that Pakistani authorities were not provided proper documented proof of the passengers on-board the charter flight being Pakistani citizens, and that it would not allow them to enter the country if their citizenship could not be confirmed.
“Despite having settled all issues with the European Commissioner, who recently visited Pakistan, the laws of the land have been violated by one of the European countries, which absolutely cannot be allowed,” the statement quoting Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said.
The Minister further said some countries were not trying to understand government of Pakistan’s resolve to curb this unethical, inhuman and unlawful act of sending back passengers without proper verification.
It merits mentioned here that this is for the first time Pakistani authorities have refused entry to deportees sent to the country.
The incident comes a week after high-level talks with the European Union to settle a dispute over forced repatriations.
On Wednesday, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said deportation of any citizen on documents issued by any other country is a violation of international laws and human rights.
Ministry of Interior also sent a letter to Canadian High Commission over reported violation of procedure in sending deportees back to Pakistan.
Source: APP
