Deportation Delayed: Over 40 Pakistani Nationals Stranded at Attari Border Post-Deadline
Despite the official May 1 deadline for Pakistani nationals to leave India having passed, more than 40 individuals — including men, women, and children — arrived at the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP) today, hoping to cross over into Pakistan. However, the gates of the border remained closed until the afternoon, with no Pakistani citizens allowed to return and no Indian nationals coming in from the other side.
Among the group were people from distant parts of the country, including Jammu, escorted by local police. While many refrained from speaking publicly, a few individuals shared their stories — revealing heartbreak, uncertainty, and a sense of displacement.
Murawat Hussain Shah from Rajouri accompanied his cousins, Saida Zameer Fatima and Saida Saheer Fatima, both facing deportation. “They came to India in 1983 on valid visas after losing their father and brother — the only family they had back in Pakistan. They have no home there now. Everything they know is here,” he said, visibly distressed about their uncertain future.
Another emotional case was that of a woman from Karachi, whose four-year-old son holds an Indian passport. “Let me stay here with my child, or at least let him come with me to Pakistan,” she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
Also among those at the border were around 16 Pakistani Hindu nationals, who had traveled to Haridwar to perform post-death rituals for their elders. Unfortunately, a breakdown in their taxi caused them to miss the repatriation deadline. Now, they are hoping authorities will still allow them to return today.
The ongoing deportations, triggered by central government orders in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, have brought numerous human-interest cases to the forefront, many involving long-time residents of India or individuals with deep familial and cultural ties to the country.
So far, no official statement has been issued by authorities regarding whether those who missed the deadline will be granted an extension or be allowed to return to Pakistan today.
Leave A Comment