No delays, no excuses: Telangana begins deportation of 33 Pakistani nationals

While the Attari border remains the designated land exit point for Pakistani nationals until April 30, those travelling by air must depart via Delhi or Mumbai. Passengers flying out of Hyderabad will need to transit through Saudi Arabia or Dubai.

The Telangana police have begun the process of deportation of 33 Pakistani nationals in the State, following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued on April 24 in the wake of the Pahalgam terror strike.

On Friday (25 April 2025), Telangana Director General of Police Jitender issued an advisory implementing the Centre’s order. Under this order, all regular visas issued to Pakistani citizens will be cancelled from April 27. Medical visas are an exception, remaining valid until April 29, while holders of Long-Term Visas (LTVs), diplomatic and official visas are excluded from the suspension.

According to the official data, 232 Pakistani nationals are in Telangana with different visas. Of these, 33 are on regular visas and will be required to leave the country. The remaining 199, who possess LTVs, are not affected by the new directive.

‘Leave India’ notices will be served to those whose visas are being cancelled. “Hyderabad accounts for four of them, born in 1985, 2010, 1991 and 2023. All are under active surveillance. There will be no delays or excuses,” Chaitanya Kumar, DCP of Hyderabad Special Branch (SB) said.

In the Rachakonda Commissionerate limits, three Pakistani nationals currently hold valid Indian visas. “Two of them have valid LTVs, while the third is a woman whose case is pending due to a court stay. She married a man in Saudi Arabia in 2011 and later applied for an LTV,” informed P. Karunakar, DCP SB Rachakonda.

Meanwhile, the State police have also sought clarification from the MHA on a few special cases, including that of an Indian woman who, following her divorce from a Pakistani national, returned to India with their child. “According to existing orders, the child, a Pakistani national, must be repatriated, although the mother is permitted to stay,” B. Sai Sri, DCP Cyberabad Special Branch (SB) confirmed.

A ‘Leave India’ notice, issued under the Foreigners Act, 1946, requires foreign nationals to exit the country within a stipulated timeframe, often for visa violations or security concerns. “The individuals concerned have already been under close surveillance. We have their photographs, addresses and documents on file, and monitoring has been continuous,” officer Sai Sri said.

The Attari border in Punjab has been designated as the primary land route for their exit, with the deadline set for April 30. “Those opting to return by air must depart from Delhi or Mumbai through foreign carriers to Pakistan. Hyderabad is not recognised as a port of exit for Pakistani nationals. Travellers leaving from Hyderabad must first transit through Saudi Arabia or Dubai before reaching Pakistan,” she explained.

Officials from the tri-commissionerates said that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure the deportations proceed smoothly. “Individuals must report to the Special Branch, where an MHA form will be generated, their documents including tickets and identity verified, and immigration authorities will be notified about their scheduled departure.

Although formal security guidelines are yet to be issued for Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), police officials confirmed they will work closely with immigration authorities to ensure a smooth transit process.

The officials said most of those facing deportation had entered India to visit relatives or for pilgrimage, particularly to religious sites in Pahadishareef and Maula Ali in Hyderabad. Student visa holders are not affected by the suspension.

The Telangana police said surveillance measures will remain in force until each individual has exited the country.

Correction: B. Sai Sri’s designation was corrected post publication.

Published - April 25, 2025 09:30 pm IST