Islamabad (HRNW) – It was revealed during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Home Affairs that around 10,000 Pakistanis traveled to the United Kingdom on student visas and later applied for political asylum.
The meeting, chaired by MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz, received a detailed briefing on illegal immigration, passport policies, and proposed criminal law reforms. DG FIA Dr. Usman Anwar informed the committee that illegal migration is damaging Pakistan’s international reputation, with several countries, including members of the European Union, raising concerns with Pakistani authorities.
He disclosed that 580 Pakistanis who traveled to Belarus did not return, while 7,000 Pakistanis who visited Azerbaijan on visit visas also failed to return. He further stated that new human trafficking routes have emerged through Malaysia and Uzbekistan. During 2025, authorities offloaded 39,786 individuals attempting to travel abroad without proper documentation and stopped over 3,000 travelers due to stop lists and Interpol alerts.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry informed the committee that illegal immigration from Pakistan has declined by 47 percent, a trend acknowledged by both European and U.S. authorities. He also highlighted ongoing reforms in passport policies and procedures.
Meanwhile, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar briefed members on proposed criminal law reforms, stating that amendments have been suggested in 55 laws related to the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). He emphasized that the reforms are aimed at modernizing the judicial system while ensuring greater support for complainants alongside protections for accused individuals.
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