Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday said that he will consult all the political parties before taking a final decision on grant of citizenship to Afghans and Bengalis who have been living in Pakistan for decades. Speaking on the floor of National Assembly, the Prime Minister said that as per the 1951 law, the children of the refugees who were born in Pakistan have a right to nationality.
During his visit to Karachi on Sunday last, Khan announced to grant citizenship to Afghan and Bengali refugees living in Pakistan which received a mixed response from the public and lawmakers.
"This law is present all over the world and is a matter of human sympathy," the Prime Minister said in the National Assembly, adding that Bengali refugees have been living in Pakistan for a long time.
"We can neither throw them out of the country nor are they citizens. If they do not get registered, they will be disappointed. We are giving citizenship to Afghan and Bengali children on humanitarian ground," he added.
The Prime Minister said that opposition parties would be taken on board before taking any final decision regarding issuance of passports and national identity cards to the refugee families.
"The refugees are also human beings and if we do not take a decision on this, there will be severe problems in the society," he said, adding that it would be better if the opposition advises the government on the matter. Meanwhile, the National Assembly also passed a resolution urging the government to take steps to construct new dams in the country.
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