Pakistanis failing to leave India face three years’ jail or Rs 3 lakh fine or both
Chandigarh, April 27: “My mother’s an Indian and she is not being allowed to accompany us to Pakistan,” bawled teenage Sarita, not knowing when she could see her in person. She, her brother and father were among the hundreds queued up at the Attari border point to exit India on Sunday as the clock ticked.
The exit deadline for Pakistani nationals visiting India on SAARC visas ended on April 26, while for the rest, except those on medical visas, it is set to close on Sunday, April 27 amid escalating tensions between the two countries over the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
Medical visas issued to Pakistani nationals are valid till April 29.
At the Attari border in Amritsar district, vehicles queued up as Pakistani nationals rushed to cross over to their country.
Many Indians came to see off their Pakistani relatives at Attari and the pain of separation was palpable.
Sarita’s family had come to India for a kin’s wedding set for April 29. “We came to India after nine years.” She, her brother and her father are Pakistanis while her mother is an Indian. “They (the authorities at Attari) are telling us they will not allow my mother to go along. My parents got married in 1991. They are saying Indian passport holders will not be allowed,” she said, crying bitterly.
Most of the Pakistani nationals told PTI that they had come to meet their kin in India. Some were here to attend weddings but now have to rush home without participating.
A man from Jaisalmer said his maternal uncle, aunt and their children were visiting them after 36 years but had to rush back ahead of the deadline.
“They came from Pakistan’s Amarkot on April 15 with a 45-day visa. No one knew the situation would turn out to be like this. They did not get time to meet all their relatives,” he said.
India has warned that those who fail to exit the country after the deadline passes will face legal action under the newly enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Any Pakistani, who fails to leave India as per the deadlines set by the government, will be arrested, prosecuted and may face a jail term of up to three years or a fine of a maximum Rs 3 lakh or both.
The ‘Leave India’ notice to the Pakistani nationals was issued by the government after 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
The deadline for exiting India for those holding SAARC visas was April 26. For those carrying medical visas, the deadline is April 29.
The 12 categories of visas whose holders have to leave India by Sunday are — visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim and group pilgrim.
537 Pak natls left India through Attari
As many as 537 Pakistani nationals, including nine diplomats and officials, left India through the Attari-Wagah border point in four days beginning April 24 as the exit deadline for the 12 categories of short-term visa holders of the neighbouring nation ended Sunday, officials said.
A total of 850 Indians, including 14 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the international border crossing located in Punjab in the last four days.
Similarly, 116 Indians, including one diplomat, returned from Pakistan on Sunday through the international land border crossing; 342 Indians, including 13 diplomats and officials, came back on April 26; 287 Indians crossed over on April 25; and 105 Indians returned on April 24, the officials said.
Protocol Officer at the Attari border Arun Mahal told PTI that between April 24 and 27, a total of 537 Pakistani nationals crossed over to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border while 850 Indians returned from Pakistan. Some of the Pakistanis might have left India through airports too, the officials said, pointing out that since India does not have direct air connectivity with Pakistan, they might have left for other countries.
The deadline for exiting India for those holding SAARC visas was April 26. For those carrying medical visas, the deadline is April 29. (PTI)