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APL OBJECTS PAK-UK AGREEMENT TO DEPORT THOUSANDS OF PAKISTANIS
Association of Pakistani Lawyers, a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, Judges in the UK has taken serious note of the announcement of British Home Secretary Rt. Hon Theresa May and her Pakistani counterpart Dr. Rehman Malik agreeing to deport all illegal Pakistani immigrants to Pakistan.
APL objects this development and is of the view that this memorandum is flawed as there are around a million waiting to be regularised in UK and deportation and or removal of only Pakistanis without due process will be discriminatory and against the basic human rights of those individuals some of whom are seeking protection under the Geneva Convention 1951 and ECHR 1950.Both Govts cannot deny individuals a right of international protection, fair trial and due process which benefitted in the past the current Interior Minister, both premiers and is currently aiding the former military dictator as that is the beauty of British law and judicial system to protect people who fear persecution for their long held belief or reasons of race , colour, nationality or political association and or unfair trial, torture & ill treatment in their country of origin.
Association of Pakistani Lawyers is of the view that the people who are still working under the carpet in UK , the Government must address the issue of current backlog consisting of existing failed asylum seekers, overstayers, and families with children living in Britain to regularise them rather than removing them. Migration watch earlier estimated the figure of around 870,000 people and though the Home Office accepts a lesser number being economical with the truth.
Chair APL Barrister Amjad Malik said that, “APL welcomes the forthcoming task force tackling human trafficking, as well as intelligence sharing mechanism to combat terrorism but we object to deportations of many thousand Pakistanis as we have been a supporting the idea that the current Home Secretary should consult with all stakeholders & chalk out a strategy to bring all those in the Immigration record who have long been working in our black economy as slaves. The ideal and practical way is by clearing a backlog by granting a General Amnesty as was the pledge of Lib Dem before Polls on the condition that they register themselves within certain grace period and have no criminal conviction(s). This is the way that half of the measures UK Minister is suggesting and negotiating with her Pakistani counterpart will automatically be addressed. This can reduce fraud which is in billions, curb illegal working and increase taxes in British Govt’s public purse remaining in compliance with the international instrument’s obligation(s)”. APL looks forward to working with both Pakistan and UK’s Home Office to ensure that any changes to the immigration system operates in a fair, transparent and judicious manner, while protecting and promoting the competitive position of successful UK businesses and basic human rights of the individuals duly protected by the Geneva Convention 1951 and European Convention on Human Rights 1950”.
Barrister Amjad Malik
Chair &
Members of the Executive
Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
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