190 Pakistanis Deported from US during Last Two Years
Islamabad : The US has deported 190 Pakistanis during the last two years after arresting them on different charges, said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan.
During Question-Hour session of the National Assembly on Thursday, he said the US Department of Homeland Security does not intimate the embassy or concerned consulates about the arrest of accused persons and place where the prisoners are detained, until the investigation is completed and final orders of removal by the court are issued.
“We only come to know when US Department of Immigration Custom and Enforcement approaches us for issuance of travel document, while prisoners who complete their sentence are repatriated to Pakistan at US expenses,” he added.
He said it is a common practice that at the time of arrest Pakistani nationals sign the waiver of their right of consular access, and so the US security agencies do not inform the Embassy about their arrest.
Malik Amad said members of the Pakistani community are generally imprisoned in US jails for charges like overstaying, domestic violence, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, illegal arms possession and other minor crimes.
“Even after prosecution and sentencing, the deportees choose to stay back in US and prefer to contest the removal orders rather than repatriation to Pakistan,” the minister said.
He said whenever Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited the US, he held meetings with Pakistani community residing there besides the official engagements to hear problems faced by them.
He said the fee for Pakistani visa is determined by Interior Ministry and the visa issuing policy is reciprocal-based and varies from country to country.
