Bengalis living since 1971 to get CNICs
ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to give Pakistani nationality to all the Bengali residents who have been living in Pakistan since before the fall of Dhaka.
Federal Secretary Interior Khawaja Siddique Akbar told this to the Standing Committee on Interior of the National Assembly. He said those Bengali families who have been living in Pakistan since before December 16, 1971 will be issued national identity cards.
The committee reviewed the affairs of illegal immigrants in Pakistan. Abdul Qadir Patel presided over the committee meeting. The committee was told that there were over 2.5 million Bengali immigrants in Pakistan. Abdul Qadir Patel expressed strong resentment over non-issuance of national identity cards to the new race of Bengali families who have been residing in Pakistan for so many years while their parents had already got national identity cards.
Bushra Gohar said that a clear policy should be brought for the immigrants and the status of Afghan immigrants living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should also be cleared. On this Khawaja Saad Rafiq said the Biharis who migrated on the name of Pakistan should not be matched with Afghan migrants.
Bushra Gohar and Bashir Ahmed Virk said that the terrorists have got permanent stay in Pakistan by contracting marriages with Pakistani women, adding that an Arab family had been living in Abbottabad for several years but nobody knew about them.
Director General Passport said that all passports were issued after verification through Nadra while Nadra officials said that Special Branch, IB and ISI took decision of issuing identity cards after carrying out investigations of suspected persons. The standing committee summoned the detailed reports on pending cases of identity cards of the Bengalis.
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