UK wants Pakistan to take back thousands of migrants

LONDON: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday that Britain wants Pakistan to take back thousands of Pakistanis who have overstayed their visit visa in the United Kingdom and have no status but cannot be sent back to Pakistan without a proper treaty.

At a press conference in Pakistan High Commission here, the Foreign Minister said that the UK govt wants Pakistan to sign re-admission treaty so that the over stayers and others living illegally could be sent back to Pakistan. Qureshi said signing this treaty will be helpful for those Pakistanis who apply for the visit but their visas are rejected because Britain is cautious of visa applicants.

“We have initiated dialogue on this. This will help those who are genuine visa applicants. This will help Pakistan more,” said Qureshi.

It’s understood that nearly four million illegals currently live in the United Kingdom. Of these, more than 30,000 are believed to be Pakistanis.

Qureshi said that linked with the same matter, he had discussed with Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, the issue of former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The Foreign Minister confirmed that there is no extradition treaty currently between the UK and Pakistan and the issue of capital punishment has been the “biggest obstacle” between the two countries. We have found a way and that’s to amend the Pakistan Penal Code which will address the concerns of Britain, he said.

He said amending the PPC will help Pakistan in seeking the extradition of people it wants

Answering a question, Qureshi said he had no ambition to seek any other role other than what he already has when asked if he is seeking to become the prime minister or take over the Pakistan Thereek-e-Insaaf (PTI). “I am content with what I have. I know about my position and I am fine with that.”

When asked about the alleged selective accountability by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Qureshi said that it was up to the NAB to make independent decisions. He said that the NAB was taking decisions on merit and out of government control.

Qureshi said that he was disheartened that Pakistan cricket team lost to India but he added that the team captain didn’t listen to the advice of Imran Khan.

About the appointment of Ali Jahangir Siddiqui to bring investments to Pakistan, Qureshi said that the PM had taken this decision to improve investments.

“Siddiqui will be working without a salary and will not cost anything to Pakistan. When reminded that his party had made allegations against him and termed his appointments previously as a national security threat,” he said and distanced himself from the PTI official view in recent past and said that he personally made no allegations against Siddiqui.