Parliamentary committee on repatriation of Zaireen, Tableeghi Jamaat and overseas Pakistanis on Friday reviewed the progress made on the subject and directed Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant officials to take immediate steps to repatriate Pakistani nationals trapped in Afghanistan, Iran and Middle Eastern countries.
The committee met here with Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaisar in the chair. Chairman of subcommittee Shehryar Khan Afridi gave a detailed briefing on the progress made over the subject. He said that 1,097 Tableeghi Jamaat members trapped in various countries abroad have been brought back through special flights. He said 237 Afghan nationals of Tableeghi Jamaat have also been sent back after they tested negative for Covid-19.
The committee was informed that another 243 foreigners have been flown out of Pakistan after testing negative. Thousands of Tableeghi Jamaat members trapped in various parts of Pakistan due to lockdown have also been sent back to their respective cities since the committee took over the job.
Shehryar Afridi said that 263 Pakistanis have been brought back from Japan and Bangkok to Islamabad and they have been quarantined and their samples sent for coronavirus test. He said 50 Zaireen from Taftan border have been brought to Punjab and later sent to their homes after spending quarantine period. “Moreover, another flight brought back 250 Pakistanis from United Arab Emirates who have also been sent to their homes after spending quarantine period. A flight from Jeddah brought back 542 Pakistanis who have been quarantined,” the minister told the committee.
Afridi told the committee that 200 prisoners have arrived from United Arab Emirates at Faislabad and have been quarantined. He also submitted progress report on return of stranded Pakistanis in Iran, Afghanistan and Gulf states.
The National Assembly speaker appreciated the efforts of the committee and the federal and provincial government officials for making unprecedented efforts to help bring trapped Pakistanis from abroad. He also praised the officials for facilitating the retrain of trapped Zaireen and Tableeghi Jamaat members to their respective homes.
Asad Qaisar, however, took cognizance of the reports about reluctance of Afghan authorities to immediately repatriate Pakistanis trapped in their country and directed Ministry of Foreign Affairs to accelerate the process. He also contacted Special Assistant to PM on National Security Dr Moeed Yousaf and directed him to put the process on a fast track so as the trapped Pakistanis could be brought back on an emergent basis.
He also decided to contact Afghanistan ambassador to Pakistan and Pakistani envoy in Kabul so as the matter could be taken up at the highest level and impediments in return of Pakistani nationals could be removed.
The speaker directed to convene a special meeting of the parliamentary committee next week to be attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri, Dr Moeed Yousaf and other stakeholders so as the matter could be resolved. He will also take up the matter of return of Pakistani labourers from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Iran.
NA speaker took notice of poor quality of food and hygiene in quarantine center in Faisalabad and directed Punjab chief minister to order an immediate probe into the matter. It was decided that the speaker will chair a meeting on April 21 to speak to ulema, scholars and leaders of religious parties to help maintain religious harmony during the holy month of Ramazan.
