ISLAMABAD: As many as 93 deported Pakistani from the United States (US) were arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) soon after they landed at the Islamabad International Airport on Wednesday.
The deportees were shifted to Pakistan via a special chartered plane by the US authorities. The US had taken the individuals into custody over immigration violations, criminal conduct and other charges. Upon arrival, the deportees were taken into custody and shifted to FIA’s anti-human trafficking cell for further investigation.
Earlier, the US had imposed sanctions on three Pakistani officials after a row between the two countries over deportation of the Pakistanis. The US had imposed visa sanctions on DG passport, Interior Ministry’s joint and additional secretaries. Three officials are said to be overseeing country’s policy on accepting back nationals deported from other countries.
Whereas the Pakistani government had asked the US to fulfill the legal requirements ahead of deporting the Pakistanis.
Earlier on May 14, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had rejected the reports that the United States (US) had imposed visa restrictions against Pakistan.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs took up the issue with Washington. The US embassy [ in Pakistan] issued a clarification saying false news reports are being spread,” he had said while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, which had met in Islamabad with Ehsanullah Tiwana in the chair.
FM Qureshi had said the US was going to deport a total of 70 Pakistanis who entered the country with illegal travel documents, adding some of them had gone to the US in the 70s and 80s.
