PAKISTAN SEEKS U.S. TALKS TO ABOLISH SPECIAL REGISTRATION

Pakistan's foreign minister is bringing forward a trip to Washington amid anger over tough new US immigration measures.


Pakistan is a front-line state in America's war against terrorism, but despite it our people are being victimized.


Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri was to begin his first official US visit on 28 January, but will now fly out 10 days earlier. The announcement came as further demonstrations were held in Pakistan in protest at the US measures. Pakistan is among 20 countries whose nationals must register with the US authorities under new anti-terror laws.

About 100 young people gathered in the city of Multan on Wednesday to protest at the requirements. They burnt an American flag and demanded better treatment from the US authorities.

Angry

Mr Kasuri plans to meet Secretary of State Colin Powell and may also meet Attorney General John Ashcroft during the week-long visit. Colin Powell is likely to meet Mr Kasuri. Islamabad wants Washington to remove Pakistan from a list of 20 mainly-Muslim nations, whose male nationals are required to register with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS).

Pakistanis have until 16 February.

Citizens from the listed countries will need to be photographed, provide fingerprints and be interviewed by the US authorities. It is feared the move could lead to the deportation of about 50,000 Pakistanis currently living in the US.

'Victimised'

Pakistani Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali told reporters he had asked Mr Kasuri to travel to Washington earlier than planned to address the issue. He said: "[Mr Kasuri] will discuss the matter of registration of Pakistanis and explain to US authorities Pakistan's point of view."

In Multan, organisers of the protest against the US decision said Pakistan was being treated unfairly. Shahid Mahmood Ansari, president of the All Pakistan Youth Alliance, said: "Pakistan is a front-line state in America's war against terrorism, but despite it our people are being victimised." Mr. Ansari said Pakistan had taken great risks when it gave support to the US-led coalition after the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001. "Is it a reward for this support that our people are being detained in America?" he asked.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2661521.stm

Pakistan's foreign minister is bringing forward a trip to Washington amid anger over tough new US immigration measures.


Pakistan is a front-line state in America's war against terrorism, but despite it our people are being victimized.


Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri was to begin his first official US visit on 28 January, but will now fly out 10 days earlier. The announcement came as further demonstrations were held in Pakistan in protest at the US measures. Pakistan is among 20 countries whose nationals must register with the US authorities under new anti-terror laws.

About 100 young people gathered in the city of Multan on Wednesday to protest at the requirements. They burnt an American flag and demanded better treatment from the US authorities.

Angry

Mr Kasuri plans to meet Secretary of State Colin Powell and may also meet Attorney General John Ashcroft during the week-long visit. Colin Powell is likely to meet Mr Kasuri. Islamabad wants Washington to remove Pakistan from a list of 20 mainly-Muslim nations, whose male nationals are required to register with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS).

Pakistanis have until 16 February.

Citizens from the listed countries will need to be photographed, provide fingerprints and be interviewed by the US authorities. It is feared the move could lead to the deportation of about 50,000 Pakistanis currently living in the US.

'Victimised'

Pakistani Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali told reporters he had asked Mr Kasuri to travel to Washington earlier than planned to address the issue. He said: "[Mr Kasuri] will discuss the matter of registration of Pakistanis and explain to US authorities Pakistan's point of view."

In Multan, organisers of the protest against the US decision said Pakistan was being treated unfairly. Shahid Mahmood Ansari, president of the All Pakistan Youth Alliance, said: "Pakistan is a front-line state in America's war against terrorism, but despite it our people are being victimised." Mr. Ansari said Pakistan had taken great risks when it gave support to the US-led coalition after the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001. "Is it a reward for this support that our people are being detained in America?" he asked.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2661521.stm

Being a Federal Minister of Pakistan I can guaranttee that we will close all terrorist training camps, but there is one condition. Let us make a little Pakistan within the United States where we can open such camps...

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Any comments on this deal..............

Khursheed Mahmood Kasuri is a Foreign Minister... Someone needs to ESL reading classes.

Guest-x, I have some comments for yo, will you be available this evening?

Available for what?

The example of the Pakistani government offical should be followed by other countries as well.

All people affected by Special Registration should write to their own countries government officials to negotiate with the U.S. government.

Pakistan has more terrorists per square km than any other country. Of course since most of them are busy killing Indians, the US considers them a "ally" in the war against terrorism.

If special registration is for catching terrorists, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia should have been on the top of the list.

While I a very liberal on all issues including immigration, as a legal immigrant who became a citizen I think it is strange that people would expect that even if they are here illegaly and caught, that nothing should happen.

Of course to make it fair..ALL temporary visitors both male and female from ALL countries that require visa to visit the US should have to regester.

Pakistan is helping U.S. in their efforts to fight terrorism in the Middle East.

America is a nation of immigrants, Europeans who came to this land few generations ago are currently in majority. America has had the most humane immigration policies with some eighty visa categories, ranging from standard visitors, immigration for investors, refugees, asylum seekers to battered spouses and religious workers. Pretty much everyone is welcome to America and also allowed to love, stay, and adopt America as his or her own country. Given the economic opportunities, social openness, hospitality of Americans, fairness and equality in law an order, there is no doubt that the brightest minds are drawn to America and make it their home country.

For decades, the immigration service (INS) has been swamped with a high case load and has been battling dwindling budgets. After the 9/11 tragedies, INS does care because its policies of leniency were abused. Armed with increased personnel and budget, INS has made one thing clear, old days are gone.

The current INS policy of ˜special registration' for specific countries, mostly Muslims, of male population of specific age group is overtly against international norms. Any policy targeting race, gender, and country of origin or religion is simply discriminatory. It is also fundamentally against the basic principles and protections guaranteed by U.S. constitution.

Those who may not have properly followed INS rules in the past, if they come out for ˜special registration' are expected to be detained indefinitely and investigated as ˜terrorists.' Hence tricking those ready to abide by law and throwing them in jails. This hardly sounds fair.

No doubt after the tragedy of 9/11 America has world's sympathy and support in bringing those responsible to justice. The terrorists were a band of outlaws hiding in mountains in Afghanistan. Pakistan, a Muslim country, has played a leading role from the day one in helping America find its culprits hence once again proving to be a friend indeed. However, no Pakistani national was involved in 9/11 attack on America, none found even after interrogation of 100s detained in a dragnet following 9/11. Many Pakistani nationals perished in the attack, some from Pakistan American community, like Hamdani sacrificed their life while saving their fellow Americans.

Hence, while Pakistani community is bewildered as to why Pakistan's name has been added to the expanding list of Muslim countries included in unprecedented ˜special registration' process. The community seems to be in disbelief and disarray and are asking where the community leaders are who are speaking on their behalf, except the Pakistani Ambassador?

Regardless, either there should be no ˜special registration' or such a policy should be applicable to all races, both genders, all countries of origin, all ages, and all religions.

Is it really a proper time for U.S. to create resentment among Pakistanis who are the biggest supporters in U.S. led war on terrorism?



http://paknews.com/editorials.php?id=1&date1=2003-01-14

The special registration is America's right to invoke, it's what Americans want, it's what our government wants, and the only change that would make it better is to make every foreign person here, from every country (especially Mexico), register, as long as they have nothing to hide. If they do, then they don't belong here and they know it. It's time to get tough on our immigration laws and even tougher on illegal immigration.

Okay USC, wait for most of the immigrants to show up.

Okay USC, wait for most immigrants to show up.