Pakistan's new PM promises citizenship to refugees' children
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 17 September 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Pakistan's new PM promises citizenship to refugees' children, 17 September 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc053be6.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 17, 2018 17:17 GMT
Bengali immigrants living in Pakistan gather at a market in Karachi on September 17.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has pledged to grant citizenship to Pakistan-born children of Afghan and Bengali refugees, many of whom have lived in the country for decades.
Khan said late on September 16 that hundreds of thousands of Afghans and Bangladeshis live in Pakistan without the benefits of its social security system.
He said the children's lack of documentation and education has prevented them from getting jobs, so they turn to crime.
"When you are born in America, you get the American passport. It is the practice in every country in the world, so why not here? How cruel it is for them," Khan said.
Khan took office last month after his Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) party won national elections on July 25.
Pakistan is home to some 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees, some of whom have lived in the country since fleeing the Soviet invasion in 1979.
There are also some 250,000 Bengalis, many of whom arrived during Pakistan's civil war in 1971, when East Pakistan broke away to declare independence and become Bangladesh.
The United Nations refugee agency welcomed Imran Khan's announcement.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
