Illegal Entrants Sheltered In Pak High Commission
New Delhi Oct. 31.—The Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi has given shelter in its premises to some West Pakistani nationals who have entered India illegally since the beginning of the freedom struggle in Bangladesh, reports PTI.
The High Commission itself had admitted some time in June this year that it had “accommodate temporarily” Mr. Mohammed Akramuddin Hashmi, inspector of Land Customs. Khulna, along with the members of his family and Mr. Abbas Ali Khan, sub-surveyor in the Directorate of Land Reforms and Surveys, Dacca.
According to informed sources, the High Commission has, however, not so far responded to the request of the Government of India to direct these Pakistani nationals to report to the police so that appropriate action could be taken.
Pakistani missions in India are also understood to have issued emergency certificate to some West Pakistanis who entered India through East Bengal without any travel documents to enable them to obtain exit permits to leave for West Pakistan or visas to regularize their stay in this country.
But, authorities throughout the country have been told not to issue exit permits or visas to such persons without specific clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs.
According to information available, 291 West Pakistani nationals had entered India illegally till the end of September since March 25. They included Pakistani Army and police personnel, Government officials, bank and tea estate officials as well as civilians.
Out of these a family of four has already been permitted to leave for West Pakistan as a special case and the case of another is now being processed here.
The Government of India is also understood to have asked the State Governments for the where-about of 64 others, whose cases for repatriation had been taken up by the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.
While the Pakistani High Commission here showed such keenness to get a handful” of their nationals repatriated, its Government in Islamabad has systematically been refusing requests from Indian missions there to meet 451 Indian nationals languishing in Pakistani jails for a long time.
Officials in the Indian missions in Pakistan are not permitted to meet the prisoners, nor are the missions able to arrange for their defence before Pakistani courts. Movements of India officials in Pakistan are so severely restricted that they do not have any other means of securing information about Indians in Pakistani jails.
Though in some cases the Pakistani Government intimated Indian missions about the action taken against prisoners and the punishment awarded often these prisoners are not released even after the expiry of their sentences.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 1.11.1971