Thousands of Pakistanis are risking everything for asylum overseas

More than 125,000 Pakistanis have applied for political asylum in Italy alone, with another 10,000 seeking refuge in the United States, the country’s parliamentary body was informed during a meeting held at Parliament House on Tuesday.

The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis was chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada and attended by officials from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the Ministry of Interior, and the Directorate General of Passports.

During the briefing, Director General (DG) of Passports Mustafa Jamal Qazi revealed that a large number of Pakistanis are traveling illegally to Europe with the intention of applying for political asylum.

In addition to Italy, many are targeting other European countries such as Spain, Poland, and Portugal. However, their asylum status remains illegal, placing them and Pakistan’s global reputation at risk.

DG Qazi noted that many asylum seekers abuse their new status by frequently returning to the same countries they claimed to be fleeing from. This contradiction, he said, prompts host countries to formally complain to the Pakistani authorities, asserting that by issuing these individuals new passports, Pakistan is violating international law and the United Nations Charter.

He explained that once an individual is granted political asylum, their status becomes international, effectively severing their entitlement to the rights of their home country. When such individuals later receive Pakistani passports, it not only undermines the credibility of their asylum claims but also damages Pakistan’s image abroad.

Highlighting the diplomatic fallout of this trend, passport officials cited a recent case involving Pakistani students being denied visas for Italy. The Italian authorities reportedly told their Pakistani counterparts that the country was already struggling to accommodate 150,000 undocumented Pakistanis and could not grant additional visas.

Italy also escalated the issue to the United Nations, prompting the Pakistani Prime Minister to take notice. As a result, Pakistan’s federal cabinet is now considering amendments to existing rules to deny passports to individuals seeking political asylum abroad.

Visa misuse and human trafficking

The DG also pointed out that some individuals misuse religious travel visas -- such as those for Umrah or pilgrimages to Iran and Iraq -- to overstay and engage in illicit activities. So far this year, authorities have apprehended 55 agents involved in illegally sending people abroad in exchange for large sums of money.

Cases of women and children being smuggled to countries like Italy and Norway have also surfaced, particularly involving women from South Punjab who are reportedly exploited after arranged marriages.

In a shocking revelation, Qazi reported that 68 Pakistanis had been kidnapped in Iran's tribal regions after entering the country via unauthorized routes known locally as “Dunki”. These individuals are currently being tortured, with some victims even having their body parts mutilated. Pakistani authorities are actively working on their repatriation.

Senator Khanzada expressed deep concern over the alarming situation, especially the growing number of Pakistanis involved in begging and illegal migration.

DG Passport further informed the committee that visa issuance for countries like the USA, UK, and Italy has been halted, while obtaining visas for the UAE and Dubai has become increasingly difficult due to growing concerns among host governments. Officials from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis confirmed that Saudi Arabia has significantly reduced the number of visas issued to Pakistanis, citing tightened data verification requirements.

Crackdowns and systemic reforms

According to data presented to the committee, more than 58,000 Pakistanis have been deported since 2023. Among them, 5,600 were identified as beggars -- with 5,000 deported from Saudi Arabia alone. Many host countries, particularly in the Gulf, do not prosecute Pakistani offenders under their local Passport Acts; instead, they detain and quickly deport them.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman were among the countries where most Pakistani beggars were found. In the past year alone, 34,000 Pakistanis were deported from Iran and have since been placed on Pakistan’s Passport Control List (PCL), with their passports blocked for five years.

DG Qazi also disclosed that around 50,000 illegal cases involving Pakistanis in Iraq have emerged this year. Of these, 3,000 to 4,000 individuals have been deported and their names added to the Exit Control List (ECL). He reiterated that in addition to the 125,000 political asylum applicants in Italy, another 10,000 have submitted similar applications in the United States—where host countries are now imposing increasingly severe penalties on false claimants.

Officials told the committee that all deportees are being added to the Passport Control List, while those involved in serious crimes are placed on the ECL. A new passport policy has been adopted in 2024, introducing stricter regulations. However, individuals who believe their passport rights have been unfairly restricted can appeal to a review committee headed by the DG Passport. So far, 24,000 such cases have been reviewed and resolved within the past three months.

Chairman Khanzada concluded the meeting by calling for a more comprehensive approach. While acknowledging the need for tighter rules, he stressed that the root causes behind these alarming trends -- such as unemployment, poverty, and lack of opportunity -- must also be addressed.

He mentioned that although 4 million Pakistanis are living abroad legally, the number of those residing abroad illegally likely runs into the millions, and it is critical to understand why they feel compelled to take such extreme steps.