Bikaner Collector’s order against Pakistani nationals causes confusion

Jaipur, Feb 19 (IANS) The order issued by District Magistrate and Collector of Bikaner Kumarpal Gautam on Monday night, directing all Pakistan nationals to leave Bikaner within the next 48 hours, has triggered confusion in the district.

The order has been issued to ensure safety and security of all, said an official. "Those flouting it will be tried under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code," said the order.

Hindu Singh Sodha, an activist for the cause of Pakistani refugees in India, said that of 25,000 Pakistani migrants in Rajasthan, there are a few hundreds in Bikaner. "Issuing such an order is ignorance. This order is like as if Bikaner is a separate country," he said.

"This order has unnerved all migrants because other district officials too would follow the Bikaner administration. "A few officials reached our Jodhpur centres and asked all Pakistani migrants to submit their documents in police stations," said Sodha.

Sodha has written to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the chief secretary and senior officials as well as human rights commission requesting to take necessary action against the district collector so that "these Pakistani migrants don't lose their meagre livelihood."

Meanwhile, Bikaner district officials clarified that the order does not include Pakistani Hindu migrants as they are registered with the Foreign Registrar.

The order restricts Bikaner locals from giving any kind of employment to Pakistani or of maintaining any kind of trade relation -- direct or indirect -- with any Pakistani citizen.

It also prohibits any Pakistani national to stay in any hotel, residence or hospitals.

Also, the Pakistan-registered SIM cards in the district have been banned for two months.

However, the order is not meant for for Pakistani nationals registered with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) with valid documents.

The order states that the Bikaner Superintendent of Police (SP) informed the local administration of unrest among locals against Pakistan after the Pulwama attack on CRPF jawans. The district administration was also informed by the state intelligence unit about public anger in a meeting which was held to review the internal security on Monday, the order explains.