UK to deport all illegal Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD Pakistan and UK on Tuesday during minister-level talks on counter terrorism and transnational crimes agreed to constitute joint working group for combating terrorism, taking collective measures to counter human trafficking and sharing of real-time intelligence. The two sides also signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve the immigration system of both the countries and make sure that maximum action would be taken against the illegal immigrants. In the dialogue that took place in the Interior Ministrys office, Interior Minister, Rehman Malik led the Pakistani side while British Secretary of State for Home Affairs and Women and Equality, Theresa May, led the British side. Later, Rehman Malik in a joint press conference with his British counterpart, said that the two sides had signed an MoU to counter human trafficking, adding that Pakistani Government had already constituted a task force to curb the crime. We have requested London to deport illegal Pakistanis residing in the UK, we have also requested them to share the information of those Pakistanis who are illegally staying in the UK, he added. He ensured that every possible action would be taken against the illegal immigrants. While stressing upon the need of intelligence sharing, he said that both the countries would share real-time intelligence with each other and appoint focal persons in this regard. We will also share information about hawala business (Hundi Business) and maximum action would be taken against the persons involved in this illegal business, the Minister said. He also informed that a joint working group had been constituted to finalise the agenda for the discussions in the upcoming visit of British Prime Minister to Pakistan in December. British Home Secretary, Theresa May, said that the British Government had given 134 million aid to Pakistan for the flood-hit areas while the British people donated more than 60 million from their own pockets to help Pakistan in this connection. In the next four years, my country is committed to spending almost 700 million in aid to Pakistan...making Pakistan the largest recipient of the British aid in the world. This money will help us to make progress on womens opportunities, but also more widely on education, healthcare, and generating new jobs and skills, the British Home Secretary said. She said that the UK was expediting the visa issuance process for Pakistanis and they would now get visas on time and within fifteen days. She said that Prime Minister Cameron was committed to initiating strategic dialogue between the two countries and this step would be forwarded through a joint working group on counterterrorism shortly. To a question, Rehman Malik said his British counterpart had assured that the visas would be issued within minimum time. Visas for business community would be issued within three days, while we have requested the UK to issue visas for journalists within seven days, he added. To a question regarding killing of MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq in London, the British Home Secretary said that investigations were still under way and she could not disclose anything prematurely. She also said that the British Government was not interested to put ban on 'burqa in UK. Earlier, British Home Secretary was given guard of honour upon her arrival at the Ministry of Interior.

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