At least 16,000 illegal immigrants have voluntarily returned home, caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai said on Friday.

“Some political elements for their political benefits are making a failed attempt to make it an issue,” he said at a press conference in Quetta that was centered on the eviction of illegal immigrants from the country.

The government has set a November 1 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave the country. The interim setup has also clarified that E-Tazkira, a travel document, for Afghan nationals would be acceptable from October 10 to October 31.

On Thursday, thousands of people protested at the Chaman border in Balochistan against the government’s decision to restrict the border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan by making it mandatory for people to have a passport or visa to enter the country.

Achakzai stated that the decision to expel 1.3 illegal immigrants was final and would not be reviewed. He defended it by saying that every state has a responsibility to act against illegal foreigners.

According to the information minister, such people were already informed of the repercussions of not following the deadline.

The interim government has formed a task force to execute the decision. It would confiscate the properties and businesses of illegal immigrants who are not part of the tax net. Moreover, any Pakistani involved in doing business with them would be tried under the law.

“The government with full force will implement its decision,” he said and clarified that non-serious and illogical demands would not be accepted.

“Some people are calling for giving an exemption to Chaman and the bordering city of Afghanistan, Spin Boldak, which is not possible at this moment. No such exemption will be given,” Achakzai said.

Protesters at the Chaman border had demanded the government review the decision, making it mandatory for people to have a passport or visa to enter the country.

After the deadline, the minister said that all the institutions concerned would begin their work and in this regard, a control centre would be formed. Haji Camp centre has been converted into a holding centre where illegal immigrants would be kept. Similar centres have been established in Chaman and Pishin.

“Other than Chaman, more crossing points will be opened in Qilla Saifullah and Chagai,” he said and added that immigrants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be returned from the respective province.

It has been decided that illegal immigrants from Sindh and Punjab would be sent back via N-65 Jaffarabad, Chaman.

“Saturday has been fixed for illegal immigrants coming from Punjab and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday have been fixed for those coming from Sindh,” Achakzai said.

While speaking about the demand for exemption, he said that if approved similar relief would be sought in Waziristan, Mohmand Agency, and Chitral in KP. “We will be known as a banana republic if we will allow 50,000 people to cross our international borders daily without any visa or passport,” the minister said and added that a populist stance cannot block the decision.

The 1.3 million undocumented people include a large number of Afghan citizens. They also include Iranian Baluch, Kurds, Indians, Bangladeshi, people from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nigerians.

“The National Database & Registration Authority has blocked as many as 70,000 identity cards and the investigation into it will be expedited.”