Home Ministry Halts April 30 Deportation of Pakistani Nationals

The Central Government of India has made a significant decision regarding the deportation of Pakistani nationals residing in the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs has revised the previously imposed April 30 deadline for their departure. It has decided to continue allowing Pakistani nationals to return to their country through the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab until further orders are issued.

This move has brought temporary relief to hundreds of Pakistani citizens and their families who had been stranded at the border.

Previously, following the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, the Central Government had issued directives mandating that all Pakistani nationals must leave India by April 30. It also announced plans to close the border post that date. The abruptness of this directive caused significant distress among several families, especially those with Pakistani spouses married to Indian citizens and individuals awaiting long-term visas.

“I am married to an Indian citizen and waiting for a visa change. What wrong have I done? Why are we being punished like this?” asked Sameeran, a Pakistani national, expressing her anguish over the situation.

The uncertainty at the Attari border led to emotional and chaotic scenes. On April 30, a tragic incident underscored the gravity of the situation. Abdul Waheed Bhatt, an 80-year-old Pakistani national who had been living in India since 1980, died while waiting on a bus for the deportation process. The incident highlighted the physical and mental toll the deportation process was having on elderly individuals.

Officials reported that, over the past week, 237 Pakistani nationals had been repatriated through the Attari border. Since the repatriation process began at the end of April, a total of 537 individuals have returned to Pakistan. Indian citizens from Pakistan have also returned to India during this period.

Although initial exemptions were granted for those holding medical visas, individuals from several other categories experienced severe hardship due to the orders. Many have appealed to the government to adopt a humanitarian approach.

With the Ministry of Home Affairs now suspending the deadline, the affected families have found temporary respite. They await further instructions, even as uncertainty continues to loom for many individuals on both sides of the border.