Pakistan: Whether the 131 Pakistani citizens deported from the United States to Pakistan in late June 2002 were detained or faced any other repercussions upon their return; whether there are any repercussions facing a person who is deported back to Pakistan from another country, particularly illegal immigrants or failed refugee claimants

Numerous articles reported on the deportation of 131 Pakistani nationals from the United States to Pakistan in late June of 2002 (USA Today 7 Oct. 2002; Deccan Herald 11 July 2002; The Washington Times 22 Aug. 2002; The Washington Post 10 July 2002; BBC 29 June 2002; Dawn 11 July 2002; New York Times 10 July 2002).

Despite concerns that they would be taken into custody once they arrived in Pakistan, news articles reported that none of the deportees has been arrested (Washington Post 10 July 2002; Deccan Herald 10 July 2002). A 10 July 2002 article reported that the plane taxied to a "remote location at the Islamabad airport," where the deportees were "questioned briefly, then released" (Washington Post). A Pakistani consular officer who co-ordinated the deportation of the 131 Pakistanis was reported to have praised the efforts of Pakistani immigration officials and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for "being extraordinarily good and courteous to the deportees, once they arrived in Islamabad" (Dawn 11 July 2002). The officer was reported to have further stated that Pakistani officials "processed them quickly and then were ordered to give [the] deportees money to reach their destinations in Pakistan" (ibid.). Further, a 29 June 2002 BBC article reported that the deportees had arrived in Islamabad and were "allowed to go to their homes." As well, a later article reported that one of the 131 deportees was presently living with family members in a village in Punjab (USA Today 7 Oct. 2002).

While not referring specifically to the deportation of the 131 Pakistani citizens in June 2002, the following information may also be of interest:

Two articles reported on the deportation of a Pakistani man from the US to Pakistan (The San Francisco Chronicle 12 Sept. 2002; Los Angeles Times 20 Sept. 2002).

Reportedly, Nasir Ali Mubaric, who had been facing deportation since 1999 for overstaying a student visa, had come to the attention of federal authorities because ten years earlier he had been the roommate of a Pakistani sentenced to life in prison for "plotting to blow up 12 U.S. jetliners" (ibid.).

According to the September 2002 article, Mubaric, who had been living in Northern California and had been deported to Pakistan in August 2002, was detained by Pakistani officials upon his arrival and was "missing" (The San Francisco Chronicle 12 Sept. 2002). The two INS officials who accompanied him reportedly stated that they had been met at the Islamabad airport by men claiming to be Pakistani officials (ibid.). While they never verified the information, the INS officials further stated that the deportee had been taken to a government detention centre (ibid.).

While stating that he was not familiar with this particular case, an official spokesperson for the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C., was reported as having stated that he "would not be surprised that someone deported from the U.S. would be questioned upon their arrival in Pakistan" (Los Angeles Times 20 Sept. 2002). The official further stated that "if it is a law-and-order matter, they are not obliged to tell us what they are doing" (ibid.).

For further information on the possible repercussions facing a person who is deported back to Pakistan from another country, please consult PAK39303.E of 6 August 2002.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

BBC. 29 June 2002. Owais Tohid. "Pakistanis Tell of US Prison Horror." [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

Dawn [Karachi]. 11 July 2002. Masood Haider. "United States May Deport 120 More Pakistanis." [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

Deccan Herald [Bangalore, in English]. 10 July 2002. L.K. Sharma. "America Gives Pakistanis Expensive Liberty." [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

The Los Angeles Times. 20 September 2002. Greg Krikorian. "Family Fears for Safety of Deported Detainee." (NEXIS)

The New York Times. 10 July 2002. "Scores of Pakistanis Are Deported by U.S."

The San Francisco Chronicle. 12 September 2002. Bob Egelko. "Man Deported by U.S. Missing in Pakistan." (NEXIS)

USA Today. 7 October 2002. Elliot Blair Smith. "Missteps Result in Deportations Back to Pakistan." [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

The Washington Post. 10 July 2002. Steve Fainaru. "U.S. Deported 131 Pakistanis In Secret Airlift." [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

The Washington Times. 22 August 2002. Anwar Iqbal. "97 More Detainees on Their Way to Pakistan." [Accessed 29 Oct. 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

NEXIS

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International

BBC

Dawn

Dawn Wire Service

News International

Pakistan News Service

Rediff

The Tribune

World News Connection

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