Mushahid for granting nationality status to refugees

Islamabad:Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed has said that Pakistan had been a model host for welcoming refugees from different countries in modern history not only from Afghanistan but also having the largest Rohingya, Bengali and Somalis population as well.

Mr Mushahid made these remarks during a dialogue on ‘Human trafficking in Pak-Afghan region’ organised here by Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).

The former Senator said that refugees are experiencing better conditions in Pakistan compared to many other countries in the region in terms of the treatment they receive from host communities and authorities. He underlined the need to look at the bigger picture of the issues of human trafficking and illegal migration to make sense of the scale and magnitude of the problem which now became a global concern and having impact on the politics of and relations between several countries, noting that it was at the core of President Trump’s election campaign as the flagship issue.

He tried to argue that foreigners or non-Pakistanis living in Pakistan who have children born in Pakistan should become Pakistani citizens whether they are Afghans, Rohingyas or Bengalis. “I believe, if someone who has been living here for the last 30, 40 years, he is a Pakistani,” Mr Mushahid claimed.

While opposing the forced eviction of refugees on any pretext, he opined that it was morally, legally, and politically wrong even if we have problems with the regime in Kabul. In his view, Pakistan is big enough to accommodate people who come here for economic and so many other reasons. Afghans in Pakistan who worked with US forces in Afghanistan were waiting for their visas for the last three years, face prolonged uncertainty, financial hardships and legal challenges as they navigate bureaucratic delays and shifting immigration policies.

Mr Mushahid did not think that Afghan refugees are an economic burden on Pakistan as “they are self-sustaining and contribute to our economy through their hard work.” He said that the main issue in Pakistan is control over borders and border management where there should be an interprovincial task force at the central level. He said with the senior-most officials of the relevant security agencies sacked after the Greece boat incident, which claimed the lives of several Pakistani nationals shows how seriously Pakistan believes in dealing with the issue of human trafficking.

Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS, said that the devastating back to back boat tragedies are because of the issue of human trafficking and the vulnerabilities the displaced persons face. These incidents show that there are not enough checks at home. The issues like human trafficking should not be submerged with our absorption in and consumption by political issues. The human traffickers who play with the destinies and dreams of people should not get scot-free.

Other participants observed that political and economic instability are key drivers of human trafficking. Combating human trafficking requires a unified national narrative that is consistently reinforced. Everyone - governments and citizens alike - must be on board. They lamented that illegal migration is largely ignored in Pakistan—until tragedy strikes.