Shoot Them, But They Won't Leave: 627 Pakistanis Crossed Border Yet Stay in India
Amritsar (The Uttam Hindu): A large number of Pakistani citizens have returned to their country via the Attari-Wagah border after the Indian government issued instructions to Pakistani citizens to leave the country immediately following the terror attack in Pahalgam. At least 627 Pakistanis, including nine diplomats and officials, have left India in the last five days. The Indian government had ordered holders of 12 categories of short-term visas to immediately return to Pakistan, the deadline for which expired on Sunday.
Many Pakistanis were seen getting emotional while leaving India. 72-year-old Razia Sultana, who has been living in Balasore district since the age of four, made a painful plea, “If we have done something wrong, shoot us but don’t throw us out of the country.” Razia Sultana, who is suffering from kidney problems, has also received a notice to leave the country and has a medical appointment in Bhubaneswar on May 10. Her family has appealed to the government to give her relief.
Maria, who is married to Soni Masih of Gujranwala, has also been ordered to leave India. They got married last year and Maria is pregnant. She has not yet received a long term visa. Maria said that she does not want to leave her husband at any cost.
756 people from Pakistan have also returned to India via Attari-Wagah border, including 14 diplomats and officials. After 26 people were killed in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the central government had issued a 'Quit India' notice for Pakistani citizens, after which the number of people returning to Pakistan via Attari-Wagah border increased significantly. On Sunday also, at least 237 people crossed the border, of which 115 were to return to India from Pakistan.
On Thursday, 115 Indians left Pakistan while 28 Pakistanis returned to their country. On April 25, 287 Pakistanis and 191 Indians returned to their homes. On Saturday, 75 Pakistanis crossed the border. People living in India on SAARC visa were given time till April 26 to return, while medical visa holders got time till April 29.
On Sunday, the deadline to leave the country also ended for holders of visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist and pilgrim category visas. Army, navy and air force advisers at the Pakistani High Commission have been given a week's time to leave the country.
