Friday, December 23, 2005
Punjab govt orders expulsion of foreign seminary students
By Anjum Herald Gill
LAHORE: Punjab government ordered on Thursday the repatriation of foreign students studying in religious seminaries in Punjab with immediate effect, Police sources told Daily Times.
"The decision was made earlier and we are expediting the repatriation process. A few students have already returned and the remaining will be repatriated by December 31," said Punjab Home Secretary Khusro Pervez.
A high-ranking police official said, "We have received instructions from the interior ministry and would expedite the repatriation of foreign students."
To a question on whether the government would pay for the travel of students who could not afford to bear the expenses, the official said: "They are foreign nationals and the Foreign Ministry is involved in the matter.
So it is not the question of paying for traveling expenses." Police sources also said that students unable to find flights before December 31 might be given additional time.
According to the latest government figures there are 390 foreign students mostly in Deobandi seminaries. However, earlier figures issued in September this year said there were 244 foreign students in Punjab.
In the aftermath of the July 7 London bombings, the Pakistan government had decided that all foreign students, even those carrying valid travel documents, would be deported and no fresh admissions would be allowed.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on August 6 said the decision to expel foreign students of madaris had been taken in view of involvement of some of them in activities that were against national interests.
President Pervez Musharraf after the London Bombings in July this year had said that there could be no compromise on the repatriation of foreign students studying in local religious seminaries.
Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had askedPresident Musharraf to allow genuine students to stay back and complete their education.
He had also proposed giving a repatriation deadline to foreign students. President Musharraf had not agreed. The Ittihad-e-Tanzimat-e-Madaris-e-Deniya (ITMD) had opposed the idea.
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