Musharraf, in his visit to the United States, says nothing about the plight of undocumented Pakistan

Musharraf, in his visit to the United States, says nothing about the plight of undocumented Pakistan

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Mohsin Zaheer

The Ashraf Jahangir Qazi, the Pakistani High Commissioner, said that Musharraf met with Bush for half an hour, and one thing they talked about was student visas for Pakistani students.

Student visas are not an issue for ordinary Pakistanis, they are an issue for the elite. Only the children of industrialists, large landholders and the ruling elite come to the United States on student visas. In other words, the problems of Pakistanis here, particularly of those who have illegal status, were not discussed at all.

Prior to September 11th, hundred of thousands of Pakistanis lived here without immigration status. In the war against terror, American officials have arrested thousands, deported hundreds and left the rest feeling persecuted.

Pakistanis are only a small fraction of all undocumented immigrants. Also, many Pakistanis have applied for legal status. Many in the community hoped that, since Pakistan is a key ally in the war against terrorism, their applications will be viewed favorably by the U.S. officials.

But the opposite has happened.

The community of almost one million Pakistanis living in the United States hoped that General Musharraf would discuss the issues facing the Pakistani community with President Bush on his recent trip to New York to address the UN General Assembly.

It is clear from the comments Qazis remarks at the press conference that no such initiative was taken by Musharraf. Members of the U.S.-based Pakistani press told the ambassador that the Pakistani community here feels abandoned.

2002-09-25

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Urdu

Sada-e-Pakistan NY

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Musharraf, in his visit to the United States, says nothing about the plight of undocumented Pakistanis living here

Rehan Ansari

born-digital

article

yes

no

2002-09-25